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Published on: October 27, 2020
Astrocyte-mediated central amygdala microcircuit gates comorbid anxiety symptoms in chronic pain
Gui-Ying Zan1, Song-Yu Yao2, Ying-Zhi Deng3
1CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China; Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
Abstract:
Comorbid anxiety symptoms are prominent affective components of chronic pain, yet the central mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain elusive. The central amygdala (CeA) regulates nociceptive processing and associated anxiety in chronic pain. However, the specific microcircuits and cell types within the CeA that regulate pain-related anxiety have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we discovered a microcircuit in the CeA wherein dynorphinergic neurons of the lateral subdivision of the central amygdala (CeL) project to the medial subdivision (CeM), activation of which gates anxiogenic effects associated with chronic pain. Dynorphin-mediated activation of CeM astroglial kappa opioid receptors (KORs), dependent upon corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor 2 signaling, enhanced CeM neuron excitability by promoting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation, likely via releasing gliotransmitter D-serine. Behaviorally, KOR-mediated bidirectional communication between CeA peptidergic neurons and astrocytes modulates the anxiogenic effect of chronic pain. Our findings reveal a neuroglial microcircuit underlying pain-associated anxiety and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
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