Direct evidence for activation and desensitization of the capsaicin receptor by N-oleoyldopamine on TRPV1-transfected cell, line in gene deleted mice and in the rat

Effects of the endogenous lipid N-oleoyldopamine (OLDA) were analyzed on the rTRPV1-expressing HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT5-1), on cultured rat trigeminal neurons, on the noxious heat threshold of rats and on nocifensive behavior of TRPV1 knockout mice. The EC50 of capsaicin and OLDA on Ca-45 accumulation of rTRPV1-expressing HT5-1 cells was 36 nM and 1.8 muM, respectively. The efficacy of OLDA was 60% as compared to the maximum response of capsaicin. OLDA (330 nM to 3.3 muM) caused a transient increase in fluorescence of fura-2 loaded cultured small trigeminal neurons of the rat and rTRPV1-transfected HT5-1 cells measured with a ratiometric technique. Repeated application of OLDA and capsaicin caused similar desensitization in the Ca2+ transients both in cultured neurons and rTRPV1-transfected HT5-1 cells. In the rat intraplantar injection of OLDA (5 nmol) decreased the noxious heat threshold by 6-9 degreesC and this response was strongly inhibited by the TRPV1 antagonist iodoresiniferatoxin (0.05 nmol intraplantarly (i.pl.)). In wild-type mice OLDA (50 nmol i.pl.) evoked paw lifting/licking which was significantly less sustained in TRPV1 knockout mice. It is concluded that on TRPV1 capsaicin receptors OLDA is 50 times less potent than capsaicin and it might serve as an endogenous ligand for TRPV1 in the rat, but more likely in humans. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland. All rights reserved.