PKD2, or polycystin 2, the product of the gene mutated in type 2 autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, belongs to the transient receptor potential channel superfamily and has been shown to function as a nonselective cation channel in the plasma membrane. However, the mechanism of PKD2 activation remains elusive. We show that PKD2 overexpression increases epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced inward currents in LLC-PK₁ kidney epithelial cells, while the knockdown of endogenous PKD2 by RNA interference or the expression of a pathogenic missense variant, PKD2-D511V, blunts the EGF-induced response. Pharmacological experiments indicate that the EGF-induced activation of PKD2 occurs independently of store depletion but requires the activity of phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Pipette infusion of purified phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) suppresses the PKD2-mediated effect on EGF-induced conductance, while pipette infusion of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP₃) does not have any effect on this conductance. Overexpression of type Iα phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase [PIP(5)Kα], which catalyzes the formation of PIP₂, suppresses EGF-induced currents. Biochemical experiments show that PKD2 physically interacts with PLC-γ2 and EGF receptor (EGFR) in transfected HEK293T cells and colocalizes with EGFR and PIP₂ in the primary cilium of LLC-PK₁ cells. We propose that plasma membrane PKD2 is under negative regulation by PIP₂. EGF may reduce the threshold of PKD2 activation by mechanical and other stimuli by releasing it from PIP₂-mediated inhibition.

There is growing appreciation for the importance of gastrointestinal microbiota in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. While morphine and other narcotics are the most widely prescribed therapy for moderate to severe pain clinically, they have been noted to alter microbial composition and promote bacterial translocation to other tissues. Here we examined the pharmacodynamic properties of chronic morphine in mice following bacterial depletion with oral gavage of an antibiotic cocktail (ABX). ABX significantly reduced gut bacteria and prevented chronic morphine induced increases in gut permeability, colonic mucosal destruction, and colonic IL-1β expression. In addition, ABX prevented the development of antinociceptive tolerance to chronic morphine in both the tail-immersion and acetic acid stretch assays. Morphine tolerance was also reduced by oral vancomycin that has 0% bioavailability. These findings were recapitulated in primary afferent neurons isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) innervating the lower gastrointestinal tract, wherein in-vivo administration of ABX prevented tolerance to morphine-induced hypoexcitability. Finally, though ABX repeatedly demonstrated an ability to prevent tolerance, we show that it did not alter susceptibility to precipitation of withdrawal by naloxone. Collectively, these finding indicate that the gastrointestinal microbiome is an important modulator of physiological responses induced by chronic morphine administration.

Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC), the primary active constituent of Cannabis sativa, has long been known to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Although THC produces most of its pharmacological actions through the activation of CB₁ and CB₂ cannabinoid receptors, the role these receptors play in reducing the variety of opioid withdrawal symptoms remains unknown. The endogenous cannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), activate both cannabinoid receptors but are rapidly metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), respectively. The objective of this study was to test whether increasing AEA or 2-AG, via inhibition of their respective hydrolytic enzymes, reduces naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal symptoms in in vivo and in vitro models of opioid dependence. Morphine-dependent mice challenged with naloxone reliably displayed a profound withdrawal syndrome, consisting of jumping, paw tremors, diarrhea, and weight loss. THC and the MAGL inhibitor 4-nitrophenyl 4-(dibenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl(hydroxy)methyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (JZL184) dose dependently reduced the intensity of most measures through the activation of CB₁ receptors. JZL184 also attenuated spontaneous withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. The FAAH inhibitor N-(pyridin-3-yl)-4-(3-(5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)benzyl)-piperdine-1-carboxamide (PF-3845) reduced the intensity of naloxone-precipitated jumps and paw flutters through the activation of CB₁ receptors but did not ameliorate incidence of diarrhea or weight loss. In the final series of experiments, we investigated whether JZL184 or PF-3845 would attenuate naloxone-precipitated contractions in morphine-dependent ilea. Both enzyme inhibitors attenuated the intensity of naloxone-induced contractions, although this model does not account mechanistically for the autonomic withdrawal responses (i.e., diarrhea) observed in vivo. These results indicate that endocannabinoid catabolic enzymes are promising targets to treat opioid dependence.

There is emerging evidence indicating that smooth muscle contraction and Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels are regulated by tyrosine kinases; however, the specific kinases involved are largely unknown. In rabbit colonic muscularis mucosae cells, tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins of approximately 60 and 125 kDa were observed in immunoblots using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and were identified as c-Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. FAK co-immunoprecipitated with c-Src, and the phosphorylation of the c-Src.FAK complex was markedly enhanced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB. The presence of activated c-Src in unstimulated cells was identified in cell lysates by immunoblotting with an antibody recognizing the autophosphorylated site (P416Y). In whole-cell patch-clamp studies, intracellular dialysis of a Src substrate peptide and anti-c-Src and anti-FAK antibodies suppressed Ca2+ currents by 60, 62, and 43%, respectively. In contrast, intracellular dialysis of an anti-mouse IgG or anti-Kv1.5 antibody did not inhibit Ca2+ currents. Co-dialysis of anti-c-Src and anti-FAK antibodies inhibited Ca2+ currents (63%) equivalent to dialysis with the anti-c-Src antibody alone. PDGF-BB enhanced Ca2+ currents by 43%, which was abolished by the anti-c-Src and anti-FAK antibodies. Neither the MEK inhibitor PD 098059 nor an anti-Ras antibody inhibited basal Ca2+ currents or PDGF-stimulated Ca2+ currents. The alpha1C subunit of the L-type Ca2+ channel co-immunoprecipitated with anti-c-Src and anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, indicating direct association of c-Src kinase with the Ca2+ channel. These data suggest that c-Src and FAK, but not the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, modulate basal Ca2+ channel activity and mediate the PDGF-induced enhancement of L-type Ca2+ currents in differentiated smooth muscle cells.