Abstract
Adult brain structures such as the hippocampus are highly plastic to learning and gaining new experiences. Recent studies reveal that cortical areas that respond to sensory noxious stimuli (stimuli that cause pain in humans) are also highly plastic, like the learning-related hippocampus. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a key cellular model for learning and memory, is reported in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insular cortex (IC), two key cortical areas for pain perception. ACC and IC LTP exist in at least two major forms: presynaptically expressed LTP, and postsynaptically expressed LTP (post-LTP). In this short review, I will review, recent progress made in cortical LTPs, and explore potential roles of other forms of LTPs such as synaptic tagging. Their contribution to chronic pain as well as emotional changes caused by injury will be discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bie B, Brown DL, Naguib M (2011) Increased synaptic GluR1 subunits in the anterior cingulate cortex of rats with peripheral inflammation. Eur J Pharmacol 653(1–3):26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.11.027
Bingol B, Wang C-F, Arnott D, Cheng D, Peng J, Sheng M (2010) Autophosphorylated CaMKIIα acts as a scaffold to recruit proteasomes to dendritic spines. Cell 140(4):567–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.024
Bliss TVP, Collingridge GL (1993) A synaptic model of memory: long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Nature 361(6407):31–39. https://doi.org/10.1038/361031a0
Bliss TVP, Cooke SF (2011) Long-term potentiation and long-term depression: a clinical perspective. Clinics 66(Suppl 1):3–17. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011001300002
Bliss TVP, Collingridge GL, Kaang B-K, Zhuo M (2016) Synaptic plasticity in the anterior cingulate cortex in acute and chronic pain. Nat Rev Neurosci 17(8):485–496. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2016.68
Chen T, Lu J-S, Song Q, Liu M-G, Koga K, Descalzi G, Li Y-Q, Zhuo M (2014a) Pharmacological rescue of cortical synaptic and network potentiation in a mouse model for fragile X syndrome. Neuropsychopharmacology 39(8):1955–1967. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2014.44
Chen T, O’Den G, Song Q, Koga K, Zhang M-M, Zhuo M (2014b) Adenylyl cyclase subtype 1 is essential for late-phase long term potentiation and spatial propagation of synaptic responses in the anterior cingulate cortex of adult mice. Mol Pain 10:65. https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8069-10-65
Chen T, Wang W, Dong YL, Zhang MM, Wang J, Koga K, Liao YH, Li JL, Budisantoso T, Shigemoto R, Itakura M, Huganir RL, Li YQ, Zhuo M (2014c) Postsynaptic insertion of AMPA receptor onto cortical pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex after peripheral nerve injury. Mol Brain 7:76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-014-0076-8
Drdla R, Gassner M, Gingl E, Sandkühler J (2009) Induction of synaptic long-term potentiation after opioid withdrawal. Science 325(5937):207–210. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1171759
Frey U, Morris RGM (1997) Synaptic tagging and long-term potentiation. Nature 385:533. https://doi.org/10.1038/385533a0
Griggs RB, Laird DE, Donahue RR, Fu W, Taylor BK (2017) Methylglyoxal requires AC1 and TRPA1 to produce pain and spinal neuron activation. Front Neurosci 11:679. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2017.00679
Jarome TJ, Helmstetter FJ (2014) Protein degradation and protein synthesis in long-term memory formation. Front Mol Neurosci 7:61. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2014.00061
Kang SJ, Liu M-G, Chen T, Ko H-G, Baek G-C, Lee H-R, Lee K, Collingridge GL, Kaang B-K, Zhuo M (2012) Plasticity of metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression in the anterior cingulate cortex after amputation. J Neurosci 32(33):11318–11329. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0146-12.2012
Kang W-B, Yang Q, Guo Y-Y, Wang L, Wang D-S, Cheng Q, Li X-M, Tang J, Zhao J-N, Liu G, Zhuo M, Zhao M-G (2016) Analgesic effects of adenylyl cyclase inhibitor NB001 on bone cancer pain in a mouse model. Mol Pain 12:1744806916652409. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744806916652409
Ko H-G, Choi J-H, Park DI, Kang SJ, Lim C-S, Sim S-E, Shim J, Kim J-I, Kim S, Choi T-H, Ye S, Lee J, Park P, Kim S, Do J, Park J, Islam MA, Kim HJ, Turck CW, Collingridge GL, Zhuo M, Kaang B-K (2018) Rapid turnover of cortical NCAM1 regulates synaptic reorganization after peripheral nerve injury. Cell Rep 22(3):748–759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.12.059
Koga K, Descalzi G, Chen T, Ko H-G, Lu J, Li S, Son J, Kim T, Kwak C, Huganir Richard L, Zhao MG, Kaang B-K, Collingridge Graham L, Zhuo M (2015) Coexistence of two forms of LTP in ACC provides a synaptic mechanism for the interactions between anxiety and chronic pain. Neuron 85(2):377–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.12.021
Li XYKH, Chen T, Descalzi G, Koga K, Wang H, Kim SS, Shang Y, Kwak C, Park SW, Shim J, Lee K, Collingridge GL, Kaang BK, Zhuo M (2010) Alleviating neuropathic pain hypersensitivity by inhibiting PKMζ in the anterior cingulate cortex. Science 330(6009):1400–1404. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1191792
Li X-H, Matsuura T, Liu R-H, Xue M, Zhuo M (2019) Calcitonin gene-related peptide potentiated the excitatory transmission and network propagation in the anterior cingulate cortex of adult mice. Mol Pain 15:1744806919832718. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744806919832718
Lian B, Vera-Portocarrero L, King T, Ossipov MH, Porreca F (2010) Opioid-induced latent sensitization in a model of non-inflammatory viscerosomatic hypersensitivity. Brain Res 1358:64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2010.08.032
Liauw J, Wu L-J, Zhuo M (2005) Calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclases required for long-term potentiation in the anterior cingulate cortex. J Neurophysiol 94(1):878–882. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.01205.2004
Liu M-G, Kang SJ, Shi T-Y, Koga K, Zhang M-M, Collingridge GL, Kaang B-K, Zhuo M (2013a) Long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission in the adult mouse insular cortex: multielectrode array recordings. J Neurophysiol 110(2):505–521. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.01104.2012
Liu M-G, Koga K, Guo Y-Y, Kang SJ, Collingridge GL, Kaang B-K, Zhao M-G, Zhuo M (2013b) Long-term depression of synaptic transmission in the adult mouse insular cortex in vitro. Eur J Neurosci 38(8):3128–3145. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.12330
Liu S-B, Zhang M-M, Cheng L-F, Shi J, Lu J-S, Zhuo M (2015) Long-term upregulation of cortical glutamatergic AMPA receptors in a mouse model of chronic visceral pain. Mol Brain 8(1):76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-015-0169-z
Liu M-G, Song Q, Zhuo M (2018) Loss of synaptic tagging in the anterior cingulate cortex after tail amputation in adult mice. J Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0444-18.2018
Miao H-H, Li X-H, Chen Q-Y, Zhuo M (2019) Calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclase subtype 1 is required for presynaptic long-term potentiation in the insular cortex of adult mice. Mol Pain 15:1744806919842961. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744806919842961
Qiu S, Zhang M, Liu Y, Guo Y, Zhao H, Song Q, Zhao M, Huganir RL, Luo J, Xu H, Zhuo M (2014) GluA1 phosphorylation contributes to postsynaptic amplification of neuropathic pain in the insular cortex. J Neurosci 34(40):13505–13515. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1431-14.2014
Redondo RL, Morris RGM (2010) Making memories last: the synaptic tagging and capture hypothesis. Nat Rev Neurosci 12:17. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2963
Rosenberg T, Gal-Ben-Ari S, Dieterich DC, Kreutz MR, Ziv NE, Gundelfinger ED, Rosenblum K (2014) The roles of protein expression in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. Front Mol Neurosci 7:86. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2014.00086
Song Q, Zheng H-W, Li X-H, Huganir RL, Kuner T, Zhuo M, Chen T (2017) Selective phosphorylation of AMPA receptor contributes to the network of long-term potentiation in the anterior cingulate cortex. J Neurosci 37(35):8534–8548. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.092517.2017
Vogt BA (2005) Pain and emotion interactions in subregions of the cingulate gyrus. Nat Rev Neurosci 6:533. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1704
Wang H, Xu H, Wu L-J, Kim SS, Chen T, Koga K, Descalzi G, Gong B, Vadakkan KI, Zhang X, Kaang B-K, Zhuo M (2011) Identification of an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor for treating neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Sci Transl Med 3(65):65ra63–65ra63. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3001269
Wei F, Li P, Zhuo M (1999) Loss of synaptic depression in mammalian anterior cingulate cortex after amputation. J Neurosci 19(21):9346–9354. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.19-2109346.1999
Wei F, Qiu C-S, Kim SJ, Muglia L, Maas JW, Pineda VV, Xu H-M, Chen Z-F, Storm DR, Muglia LJ, Zhuo M (2002) Genetic Elimination of Behavioral Sensitization in Mice Lacking Calmodulin-Stimulated Adenylyl Cyclases. Neuron 36(4):713–726
Wei F, Wang G-D, Kerchner GA, Kim SJ, Xu H-M, Chen Z-F, Zhuo M (2001) Genetic enhancement of inflammatory pain by forebrain NR2B overexpression. Nat Neurosci 4(2):164–169. https://doi.org/10.1038/83993
Xu H, Wu LJ, Wang H, Zhang X, Vadakkan KI, Kim SS, Steenland HW, Zhuo M (2008) Presynaptic and postsynaptic amplifications of neuropathic pain in the anterior cingulate cortex. J Neurosci 28(29):7445–7453. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1812-08.2008
Yamanaka M, Matsuura T, Pan H, Zhuo M (2017) Calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclase subtype 1 (AC1) contributes to LTP in the insular cortex of adult mice. Heliyon 3(7):e00338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00338
Yu J, Wang D-S, Bonin RP, Penna A, Alavian-Ghavanini A, Zurek AA, Rauw G, Baker GB, Orser BA (2019) Gabapentin increases expression of δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors. EBioMedicine 42:203–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.03.008
Zhang M-M, Liu S-B, Chen T, Koga K, Zhang T, Li Y-Q, Zhuo M (2014) Effects of NB001 and gabapentin on irritable bowel syndrome-induced behavioral anxiety and spontaneous pain. Mol Brain 7:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-6606-7-47
Zhao M-G, Toyoda H, Lee Y-S, Wu L-J, Ko SW, Zhang X-H, Jia Y, Shum F, Xu H, Li B-M, Kaang BK, Zhuo M (2005) Roles of NMDA NR2B subtype receptor in prefrontal long-term potentiation and contextual fear memory. Neuron 47(6):859–872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2005.08.014
Zhuo M (2002) Glutamate receptors and persistent pain: targeting forebrain NR2B subunits. Drug Discov Today 7(4):259–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6446(01)02138-9
Zhuo M (2008) Cortical excitation and chronic pain. Trends Neurosci 31(4):199–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2008.01.003
Zhuo M (2012) Targeting neuronal adenylyl cyclase for the treatment of chronic pain. Drug Discov Today 17(11):573–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2012.01.009
Zhuo M (2014) Long-term potentiation in the anterior cingulate cortex and chronic pain. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 369(1633):20130146. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0146
Zhuo M (2016a) Contribution of synaptic plasticity in the insular cortex to chronic pain. Neuroscience 338:220–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.08.014
Zhuo M (2016b) Neural mechanisms underlying anxiety–chronic pain interactions. Trends Neurosci 39(3):136–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2016.01.006
Acknowledgements
Thank Melissa Lepp for proof-reading and editing. M. Z. was supported by Grants from the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) project Grants (PJT-148648 and 419286).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhuo, M. Cortical plasticity as synaptic mechanism for chronic pain. J Neural Transm 127, 567–573 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-019-02071-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-019-02071-3