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Updated: May 27, 2026

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
Published on: February 20, 2018
Gα(q/11) signaling tonically modulates nociceptor function and contributes to activity-dependent sensitization
Anke Tappe-Theodor1, Cristina E Constantin, Irmgard Tegeder
1Pharmacology Institut, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Division of Physiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria Pharmazentrum Frankfurt, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main 60590, Germany Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, Berlin 13125, Germany Spinal Cord Group, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, UK.
Peripheral G protein-coupled receptor pathways modulate pain. Loss of G(q)/G₁₁ signaling in nociceptors reduces pain hypersensitivity and affects basal mechanical sensitivity, revealing a role in both pathological and tonic pain modulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Peripheral injury and inflammation trigger mediator release that affects ion channels and receptors.
- G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key mediators, with pathways like G(q)/G₁₁ implicated in pain processing.
- The specific in vivo roles of individual GPCR signaling pathways in nociception remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of the G(q)/G₁₁ signaling pathway in nociceptors to pain regulation.
- To elucidate the role of G(q)/G₁₁ signaling in both pathological pain sensitization and basal nociception.
Main Methods:
- Generation of conditional double-deficient mice lacking G(q) and G₁₁ specifically in nociceptors.
- Behavioral assays to assess pain hypersensitivity and basal mechanical sensitivity.
- Electrophysiological recordings, including patch-clamp, to analyze ion channel function in nociceptors.
Main Results:
- Nociceptor-specific deletion of G(q)/G₁₁ significantly reduced pain hypersensitivity after inflammation or nerve injury.
- G(q)/G₁₁ mutant mice exhibited altered basal mechanical sensitivity, indicating a role in tonic pain modulation.
- Loss of G(q)/G₁₁ affected voltage-dependent sodium channels (TTX-R and TTX-S) in nociceptors but not potassium currents.
Conclusions:
- The G(q)/G₁₁ signaling pathway in nociceptors is crucial for pathological pain sensitization.
- G(q)/G₁₁ signaling plays a novel, previously unrecognized role in the tonic modulation of basal nociception and acute pain.
- Targeting G(q)/G₁₁ signaling may offer therapeutic strategies for diverse pain states.
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