title: Increased stress-induced analgesia in mice lacking the proneuropeptide convertase PC2.
abstract: Many neuropeptides involved in pain perception are generated by endoproteolytic cleavages of their precursor proteins by the proprotein convertases PC1 and PC2. To investigate the role of PC2 in nociception and analgesia, we tested wild-type and PC2-null mice for their responses to mechanical and thermal nociceptive stimuli, before and after a short swim in cold or warm water. Basal responses and responses after a cold swim were similar between the two groups. However, after a short forced swim in warm water, PC2-null mice were significantly less responsive to the stimuli than wild-type mice, an indication of increased opioid-mediated stress-induced analgesia. The enhanced analgesia in PC2-null mice may be caused by an accumulation of opioid precursor processing intermediates with potent analgesic effects, or by loss of anti-opioid peptides.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Health Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, 725 Parkdale Avenue, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Croissandeau
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wahnon
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yashpal
authors.forename: Nabil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Seidah
authors.forename: Terence J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Coderre
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrétien
authors.forename: Majambu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mbikay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D045706:Proprotein Convertase 2