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- Title
The standardized Withania somnifera Dunal root extract alters basal and morphineinduced opioid receptor gene expression changes in neuroblastoma cells.
- Authors
Caputi, Francesca Felicia; Acquas, Elio; Kasture, Sanjay; Ruiu, Stefania; Candeletti, Sanzio; Romualdi, Patrizia
- Abstract
Background: Behavioral studies demonstrated that the administration of Withania somnifera Dunal roots extract (WSE), prolongs morphine-elicited analgesia and reduces the development of tolerance to the morphine's analgesic effect; however, little is known about the underpinning molecular mechanism(s). In order to shed light on this issue in the present paper we explored whether WSE promotes alterations of μ (MOP) and nociceptin (NOP) opioid receptors gene expression in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: A range of WSE concentrations was preliminarily tested to evaluate their effects on cell viability. Subsequently, the effects of 5 h exposure to WSE (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg/ml), applied alone and in combination with morphine or naloxone, on MOP and NOP mRNA levels were investigated. Results: eData analysis revealed that morphine decreased MOP and NOP receptor gene expression, whereas naloxone elicited their up-regulation. In addition, pre-treatment with naloxone prevented the morphine-elicited gene expression alterations. Interestingly, WSE was able to: a) alter MOP but not NOP gene expression; b) counteract, at its highest concentration, morphine-induced MOP down-regulation, and c) hamper naloxoneinduced MOP and NOP up-regulation. Conclusion: Present in-vitro data disclose novel evidence about the ability of WSE to influence MOP and NOP opioid receptors gene expression in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, our findings suggest that the in-vivo modulation of morphine-mediated analgesia by WSE could be related to the hindering of morphine-elicited opioid receptors down-regulation here observed following WSE pre-treatment at its highest concentration.
- Subjects
GENE expression; NEUROBLASTOMA; PLANT roots; PLANT extracts; DATA analysis
- Publication
BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2018, Vol 18, p1
- ISSN
1472-6882
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12906-017-2065-9