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The natural product argentatin C attenuates postoperative pain via inhibition of voltage-gated sodium and T-type voltage-gated calcium channels
  • +19
  • Paz Duran,
  • Santiago Loya-López,
  • Dongzhi Ran,
  • Cheng Tang,
  • Aida Calderon,
  • Kimberly Gomez,
  • Harrison Stratton,
  • Ya-ming Xu,
  • E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne,
  • Samantha Perez-Miller,
  • Zhiming Shan,
  • Song Cai,
  • Anna Gabrielsen,
  • Angie Dorame,
  • Kyleigh Masterson,
  • Omar Alsbiei,
  • Cynthia Madura,
  • Guoqin Luo,
  • Aubin Moutal,
  • John Streicher,
  • A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka,
  • Rajesh Khanna
Paz Duran
New York University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Santiago Loya-López
New York University
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Dongzhi Ran
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Cheng Tang
New York University
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Aida Calderon
New York University
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Kimberly Gomez
New York University
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Harrison Stratton
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Ya-ming Xu
The University of Arizona
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E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne
The University of Arizona
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Samantha Perez-Miller
New York University
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Zhiming Shan
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Song Cai
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Anna Gabrielsen
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Angie Dorame
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Kyleigh Masterson
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Omar Alsbiei
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Cynthia Madura
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Guoqin Luo
The University of Arizona
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Aubin Moutal
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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John Streicher
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka
The University of Arizona
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Rajesh Khanna
New York University
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Abstract

Background and purpose: Postoperative pain occurs in as many as 70% of the over 230 million surgeries performed annually worldwide. Postoperative pain management still relies on opioids despite their negative consequences, resulting in a public health crisis. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to develop alternative therapies to treat chronic pain. Natural products derived from medicinal plants are potential sources of novel and are potential sources biologically active compounds for development of novel analgesics safe analgesics. Experimental approach: Hence, in this study, we screened a library of natural products to identify small molecules that target the activity of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels due to their important roles in nociceptive sensory processing. Key Results: We found that fractions derived from the Native American medicinal plant, Parthenium incanum, inhibited depolarization-evoked calcium influx in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Further separation of these fractions yielded a cycloartane-type triterpene identified as argentatin C which blocked the activity of both voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels in calcium imaging assays. Docking analysis predicted that argentatin C may bind to NaV1.7-1.9 and CaV3.1-3.3 channels. Furthermore, voltage and current clamp electrophysiology experiments showed that argentatin C decreased Na+ and T-type Ca2+ currents as well as excitability in rat and macaque DRG neurons. Consistent with these observations, argentatin C treatment reversed mechanical allodynia in a mouse model of postsurgical pain. Conclusions & Implications: The dual effect of argentatin C on voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels supports its potential as a novel treatment for painful conditions.
17 Oct 2022Published in British Journal of Pharmacology. 10.1111/bph.15974