1. Context
Historical introduction: Rumi or Molana (Jalal-ad-Din Mohammad Balkhi) was a 13th century poet with all of his quotes in modern Farsi (1). Many of his citations deal with pain and how to alleviate pain through love; also quoting virtual metaphors for pain alleviations including love, Sufism, wine, and opium (2). According to related stories, there was a turning point in his life after a meeting with Shams, another Persian Sufi. This meeting revolutionized his life in all mental and ideological aspects; leading to a new era in his life and its division to two epochs of his life: pre-meeting and post-meeting.
2. Cellular Aspects of Rumi and Shams Interactions
2.1. Notch Signaling and Its Importance
As a single-pass transmembrane receptor, Notch is the mediator for cell-cell interactions with an essential role in cell fate, especially throughout development. In multi-cellular organisms, Notch signaling is a matter of communication between neighboring cells in order to pave a proper developmental pathway (Figure 1); talking in brief, local cell-cell communication is the downstream result of proper Notch signaling process (3). Addition of xylose and glucose residues to Notch receptors affect Notch signaling; the former impedes and the latter enhances the process of the effects of Notch signaling and its aftermath could be described as the following:
- Notch signaling pathway (including glycosylated Notch proteins) has an evolutionary conserved track, with a major role in many cell functions; including but not limited to (4-8)
(1) Final cell fate
(2) Development
(3) Vasculogenesis
(4) Tumorigenesis
(5) Immunological interactions
(6) Learning and memory
- Misregulations in Notch signaling causes a number of cell abnormalities and/or disease states.
- Using different molecules in controlling Notch signaling may be potential solutions for finding treatments in some disease states (3, 9-13).
- Mastermind-like (MAML) superfamily, which are transcriptional coactivators, are essential nuclear elements that support Notch activity; among them MAML1 is the most important one (Figure 1) (14, 15).
- Recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (i.e. known as an abbreviation: RBP-J) is "A major transcriptional effector of Notch signaling" with a great control on the whole Notch signaling pathway, especially during cell differentiation and neuronal maturation (16-18) (Figure 1).
Figure 1.
Notch signaling pathway in detail; for more explanations please see the text, including genetic control of Notch signaling; please note that Îł-secretase complex is the location where DAPT acts; also, NICD stand for Notch Intracellular Domain
2.2. Notch Receptor and Its Structure
In mammals Notch receptor is composed of four subtypes: Notch 1, Notch 2, Notch 3, and Notch 4, while canonical ligands of Notch receptors are five transmembrane proteins (Delta-like1,3,4 and Jagged 1 and 2); however, in Drosophila, Notch is encoded as a single transmembrane receptor (19-22).
- An extracellular component consisted of 29 - 36 epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats, three cysteine rich LIN repeats, and a heterodimerization domain (HD) that attached to the next segment non-covalently at the S2 cleavage site; ADAM (standing for "A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase") could cut the S2 cleavage site.
- An integral transmembrane protein with a short extracellular part (HD) extended throughout the cell membrane towards the intracellular area.
2.2.1. Rumi
POGLUT1 also known as Rumi is a protein O-glucosyltransferase and is an abbreviation for "protein O-glucosyltransferase 1" [Homo sapiens (human)]; mutations in Drosophila Rumi have a temperature-sensitive Notch phenotype, its target is the extracellular domain of Notch and has "18 target sites on Notch for Notch signaling". Most importantly, Rumi is an important gene in controlling Notch signaling through O-glucosylation of Notch epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) domains (4, 24, 25). This means that Rumi encodes an O-glucosyltransferase while the latter attaches glucose sugars to serine residues in EGF domains of the extracellular region of Notch; this effect by Rumi modifies Notch signaling (20). O-glycosylation might be the modulator of stability in EGF repeats and is essential for Notch activity, through "transferring glucose and xylose to the EGF domains of Notch and other signaling receptors". Extracellular domain of Notch is "The target of Rumi" (Figure 1) (24). In Drosophila, "multiple O-glucose residues serve as a buffer against temperature-dependent loss of Notch signaling" (26); in this way, POGLUT1 regulates Notch signaling and cellular Notch trafficking (11, 12, 19). To explain more, O-glucose residues promote Notch signaling, with xylosylation, which is an important step in completion of this process. These events happen in the secretory pathway of the cell. O-glucose and O-fucose are added to target proteins like Notch inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
Loss of Rumi results in temperature-sensitive loss of Notch signaling in flies; in other words, in flies, Rumi is considered as a temperature-sensitive regulator of Notch signaling (27). It is known that regulation of Notch activity is controlled by tissue-specific alterations in the glycan structures (19, 28-32).
2.2.2. Shams
In Drosophila, glucoside xylosyltransferase Shams has been shown to be responsible for xylosylation EGF-like repeats (9, 11, 25). Lee et al. demonstrated that in Drosophila, glucoside xylosyltransferase Shams affects the xylosylation leading to selective impediment of binding of Notch receptor with trans-Delta, while cis-ligand is unaffected; thus, Shams has important roles in developmental aspects of Drosophila (33). However, xylose residues have negative regulatory effects on surface expression of EGF 16 - 20 regulation (9). Xylosylation occurs in the Golgi and then Notch goes to the cell surface.
2.3. Meeting Between Rumi and Shams
Rumi and Shams encode two Drosophila enzymes that involved the regulation of the Notch signaling pathway in flies. It has been well shown that Rumi homologs in mice and humans (called POGLUT1) are both involved in the regulation of Notch signaling as well, although the details of how the mammalian homologs regulate signaling are not necessarily the same as Drosophila. In addition, studies have shown that if you overexpress one of the human Shams homologs (GXYLT1) and its downstream enzyme UDP-xylose:α-xyloside α1,3-xylosyltransferase (XXYLT1) in flies, phenotypes compatible with loss of Notch signaling will be observed (34-39). However, evidence from the mammalian system has not been published on these enzymes yet. Of note, human XXYLT1 shows gene amplification in a number of cancers, some of which are associated with decreased Notch signaling (9). Therefore, it is possible that in agreement with the currently available Drosophila data, human XXYLT1 overexpression in humans decreases Notch signaling and thereby promote cancer formation or some of the developmental disorders (37, 38, 40, 41). It seems that the role of Rumi, as a temperature-sensitive regulator of Notch signaling, is exerted after its glycosylation and extended through Shams, and therefore, modulating the latter effects of Shams in Notch signaling.
3. Clinical Aspects of the Meeting Between Rumi and Shams
Given the roles identified for Rumi and Shams in regulation of Notch signaling in animal models, mutations in these genes might contribute to human diseases involving altered Notch signaling; meanwhile, mutations in Notch receptors and other components of the Notch signaling pathway may lead to a number of diseases (42, 43). On the other hand, there may be hopes to treat some diseases by blocking Notch receptors. However, due to widespread effects of Notch signaling, a thorough consideration of its effects on different organ systems is needed before assessment of its effects on pain management.
Is there currently any hope to treat some disease by blocking Notch receptors? In other words, is there any means to use antagonists of Notch signaling pathway as therapeutic agents? The potential answer is yes. Several different strategies for blocking Notch signaling are being tested or developed for treating human diseases. These include small molecules that inhibit Notch receptor cleaver and/or antibodies that bind Notch and prevent its activation. There are side effects, therefore, researchers try to come up with strategies that instead of blocking the pathway in an all-or-none fashion, only inhibit specific aspects of signaling.
Here, we review in brief, the potential role of Notch signaling pathways and its interactions on pain control; a brief look at the role of Notch signaling on organ system diseases is presented in Box 1.
Box 1.A Review on the Role of Notch Signaling on Organ System Diseases
| Review on the Role of Notch Signaling on Organ System Diseases |
|---|
| Central nervous system (CNS) |
| There are studies demonstrating that manipulating the Notch pathway leads to alterations in many aspects of CNS function, including acute and/or chronic pain. Rusanescu and Mao demonstrated that Notch3 knocked out mice have permanent changes in their nociceptive neurons resembling chronic pain states while all other aspects of their neurologic system were normal (44). |
| In Alzheimer's disease, there is a ligand-induced Notch pathway activation; which is presenilin-mediated; in this process, presenilin has a critical role process in this process; there are also potential pathways proposed to treat or to prevent Alzheimer's disease through manipulation of interactions between Notch, presenilin, and the amyloid precursor protein (APP) (45, 46). |
| Cardiovascular system disorders |
| Notch signaling is essential in lymphatic valve formation and development (47, 48). On the other hand, Notch signaling has antagonistic effects in the process of aortic valve differentiation, leading to development of bone-like cells; having a role in enhancing and accelerating of calcification, and abnormal morphogenesis of the aortic valve including in bicuspid aortic valve; in addition, in the aneurysm of the thoracic aorta and congenital Marfan syndrome (5, 48-53). |
| Musculoskeletal system |
| Paradas and colleagues recently reported a missense mutation in human POGLUT1 (Rumi) in patients with a new type of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (54); further studies have opened new windows towards treatment of the disease through manipulating effects of Rumi on Notch signaling (30). |
| Cancer treatment |
| Rumi mutations are identified in cancer (55). Yu et al. discussed the essential role of Rumi in Notch signaling and stated that any dysregulation of Rumi is in association with several disease states in human beings; while "loss of Rumi activity" may have a role in some diseases; if these mechanisms are well recognized, Notch signaling pathway may be modulated by Rumi (55). Studies similar to the latter help us improve our pathway by modulating Notch signaling using Rumi in order to seek new treatment options for some clinical conditions including modulating cancer cells and cancer formation, especially in pancreatic, breast, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; in addition, in acute or chronic pain management, these disease processes are involved with impaired Notch signaling pathways (40, 41, 56-58). Inhibition of ADAM 17 expression (a member of the ADAM superfamily) could inhibit Notch pathway in renal cell carcinoma with a therapeutic potential (59). Furthermore, inhibition of MAML might be a potential treatment in cancer through Notch signaling inhibition (14, 15). |
| Congenital cholangiopathy |
| Thakurdas et al. found that Rumi has a role in Alagille syndrome (an autosomal-dominant congenital cholangiopathy) through opposing Notch ligand JAG1; i.e. Rumi opposes JAG1 function in mice liver (60). |
| Retinitis pigmentosa |
| EYS produces a great number of EGF and is pressed out in retina (the photoreceptor layer), in patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa. Rumi has specific targets on EYS and enhances the proper development of EYS shut in photoreceptor development (61-64). |
| Rare genetic disorders |
| There are some rare disorders that are the result of Rumi activity loss like Dowling-Degos disease (55). |
4. Activation of Notch Signaling Pathway and Its Implications in Pain Management: A New Hope for Treatment of Pain
During the last years, a number of studies have demonstrated the role of Notch signaling in pathogenesis and maintenance of pain. In addition, there are also complementary studies that have found new windows for modulating pain in the clinical field; these studies suggest a promise through notch signaling pathway for treatment of pain; some major controversies exist yet. A number of these studies are briefed here. These studies mainly raise questions dealing with some answers in order to find new treatments.
4.1. Role of Notch Intracellular Domain (NICD) in Pain Management
Sun et al. suggested "A pivotal role for Notch signaling pathway in development of neuropathic pain" (65); they studied the following aspects of neuropathic pain:
- Increased excitability (66)
- Change in the processing pathway of the spinal cord synaptic functions (67)
- Modifications of brain stem input to the spinal cord (71)
- Loss of cortical inhibition (72)
Sun et al. also found overexpression of Notch Intracellular Domain (NICD; Figure 1) in "DRG (Dorsal Root Ganglia), sciatic nerve, and spinal cord" in normal rats and suggested a therapeutic option for alleviating neuropathic pain; i.e. they used intrathecal DAPT (which is a Îł-secretase inhibitor; Figure 1) and found promising results for neuropathic pain when this pain was induced by spared sciatic nerve injury. This approach could be a potential promise in treatment of neuropathic pain (65). In another somewhat similar study, Yang et al. demonstrated the effects of "minocycline combined with DAPT" in treatment of neuropathic pain (73).
On the other hand, "proteolytic processing of Notch receptors and their ligands" is among the main roles of ADAM superfamily (ADAM standing for "A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase") (74). Inhibition of ADAM 17 expression (a member of the ADAM superfamily) could inhibit Notch pathway even more effectively than Îł-secretase inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma; this pathway might also serve as a potential window for pain control (Figure 1) (59).
In addition,, Xie et al. found that if notch signaling pathway was activated in rats, mechanical allodynia was induced and maintained more severely; they concluded suppression of this pathway could be a promise for treatment of neuropathic pain (75). In another study on lumbar spinal dorsal horn, Xie et al. found very similar results where they administered intrathecal DAPT (notch signaling inhibitor) before nerve injury and found decreased occurrence of mechanical pain after injury; in addition, they found intrathecal Jagged-1 (JAG-1) peptide effective for treatment of chronic pain after sciatic nerve injury (Figure 1). Therefore, they concluded their results as a promising window and a new target in treatment of neuropathic pain (76).
In summary, according to a number of studies, including the above, the following findings could be among the potential mechanisms for future works finding possible treatments of pain by using Notch signaling pathways (65, 73, 75, 76):
(1) Overexpression of Notch Intracellular Domain (NICD) occurs in nerve roots and spinal cord through the role of intrathecal DAPT (Îł-secretase inhibitor) after nerve injury; there may be the potential that overexpression of NICD could serve as a means for treatment of neuropathy.
(2) The effect mechanism of some agents (e.g. minocycline) combined with DAPT may be helpful in treatment of neuropathic pain.
(3) Intrathecal Jagged-1 (JAG-1) peptide may be an effective alternative for treatment of chronic pain.
(4) The role of members of the ADAM superfamily in inhibition of Notch pathway.
4.2. Notch Signaling and Progranulin
Progranulin is a secretory protein and a growth factor, which is cysteine-rich and consists of "seven-and-a-half tandem repeats of the granulin/epithelin module". It has a number of significant functions in many normal and pathological processes; for example, it has been mainly studied in pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases of CNS (77-80). Lim et al. found that after neuronal injury, progranulin up-regulation could attenuate neuropathic pain while motor function recovery would be enhanced; they confessed that improvement in survival of damaged neurons and/or augmented regrowth of neuronal cells might be the underlying mechanism for their finding (81).
On the other hand, Altmann et al. demonstrated that inducible progranulin overexpression leads to a number of nerve recovery after nerve injury for example, axonal growth and sensory and motor blocks. They concluded that progranulin-induced activation of Notch signaling pathway could enhance the recovery process of partially injured neurons, leading to increased neuronal regenerative capacity, a finding in support of the progranulin-Notch crosstalk hypothesis; they also discovered progranulin as a requirement for perpetuation of Notch1 expression and as an activator for Notch receptors. Meanwhile, they found that increased levels of progranulin result in "enhanced Notch-dependent gene transcription". Finally, based on their study, Notch signaling pathway could be a promising therapeutic pathway in future of neuropathic pain management (82). Hardt et al. suggested that progranulin deficiency may contribute to chronic neuropathic pain (83). Some evidence suggest a promise in acute or chronic pain management (65, 82-86), while Notch signaling is considered as functional receptors for progranulin (GRN) and involved in neurotrophic effects of GRN; progranulin is a functional ligand of Notch (85, 87). In summary, the role of progranulin in Notch signaling pathway is a potential route for treatment of pain.
4.3. Notch Signaling, Immune System, and Pain
Notch signaling has a key role in cell development and cell fate in many subtypes of the immune system cells and has applications in treatment of the immunological disorders; however, many of these cells affect the pathogenesis, induction, and maintenance of neuropathic pain and this window could be highly promising as the new therapeutic model for treatment of pain (22, 88-91). However, Notch signaling has a dynamic response towards neuronal activity. Alberi et al. found that Notch regulation of "neuronal morphology, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory" are all affected by Notch signaling (92). In addition, Wang et al. demonstrated "increased expression of selective Notch receptors (Notch 1 and 2), ligand (JAGGED2), and target genes" in nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs treated with specific inflammatory cytokines. In addition, they found that Notch genes have "dysregulated expression in degenerative disc disease" and they conclude that controlling inflammatory cytokines affecting Notch signaling pathway controls disc disease (93).
5. Conclusions
Shams modulates Rumi in cellular interactions leading to regulation of Notch signaling; however; this process has a great number of opportunities for potential future therapeutic approaches in management of neuropathic pain. Here, we reviewed the many different segments in the Notch signaling process as potential therapeutic options in pain management; future studies considering "drug development and drug delivery" could help us use these proposed segments in creating novel drugs.
Is there a chance that we could use "the meeting between Shams and Rumi" as a new era in pain management; the same as meeting between Rumi and Shams created a new era in Rumi's life, dividing "pain management history" into two epochs as the meeting divided Rumi's life into two completely different epochs: pre-meeting and post-meeting? A question to be answered yet.
