A critical role of spinal Shank2 proteins in NMDA-induced pain hypersensitivity.
Background Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) are devastating traits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although deficits in pain sensation might be one of the contributing factors underlying the development of SIBs, the mechanisms have yet to be addressed. Recently, the Shank2 synaptic protein has been considered to be a key component in ASD, and mutations of SHANK2 gene induce the dysfunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, suggesting a link between Shank2 and NMDA receptors in ASD. Given that spinal NMDA receptors play a pivotal role in pain hypersensitivity, we investigated the possible role of Shank2 in nociceptive hypersensitivity by examining changes in spontaneous pain following intrathecal NMDA injection in S hank2-/- ( Shank2 knock-out, KO) mice. Results Intrathecal NMDA injection evoked spontaneous nociceptive behaviors. These NMDA-induced nociceptive responses were significantly reduced in Shank2 KO mice. We also observed a significant decrease of NMDA currents in the spinal dorsal horn of Shank2 KO mice. Subsequently, we examined whether mitogen-activated protein kinase or AKT signaling is involved in this reduced pain behavior in Shank2 KO mice because the NMDA receptor is closely related to these signaling molecules. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that spinally administered NMDA increased the expression of a phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) which was significantly reduced in Shank2 KO mice. However, p38, JNK, or AKT were not changed by NMDA administration. The ERK inhibitor, PD98059, decreased NMDA-induced spontaneous pain behaviors in a dose-dependent manner in wild-type mice. Moreover, it was found that the NMDA-induced increase in p-ERK was primarily colocalized with Shank2 proteins in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Conclusion Shank2 protein is involved in spinal NMDA receptor-mediated pain, and mutations of Shank2 may suppress NMDA-ERK signaling in spinal pain transmission. This study provides new clues into the mechanisms underlying pain deficits associated with SIB and deserves further study in patients with ASD.
1 Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pain Cognitive Function Research Center, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Neurobiology and Physiology School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seo-Yeon
SY
Yoon
3 Department of Oral Physiology and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Tissue Regeneration, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Soon-Gu
SG
Kwon
1 Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pain Cognitive Function Research Center, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Neurobiology and Physiology School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|4 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Yong Ho
YH
Kim
3 Department of Oral Physiology and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Tissue Regeneration, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Hee
JH
Yeo
5 Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyoung-Gon
HG
Ko
3 Department of Oral Physiology and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Tissue Regeneration, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Dae-Hyun
DH
Roh
5 Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|6 Center for Neuron and Disease, Frontier Institutes of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Bong-Kiun
BK
Kaang
7 Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA.
Alvin J
AJ
Beitz
8 Department of Veterinary Physiology, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|9 Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jang-Hern
JH
Lee
1 Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pain Cognitive Function Research Center, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Neurobiology and Physiology School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seog Bae
SB
Oh
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D005419:Flavonoids; D007093:Imidazoles; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; C488222:Shank2 protein, mouse; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C093642:SB 203580; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; Shank2; extracellular signal-regulated kinase; pain; spinal cord