Role of AIBP in Chronic Pain
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Abstract
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts or recurs for more than 3 to 6 months. Activation of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) have been associated with chronic pain and hyperalgesia. The purpose of this study is to focus on the role of AIBP (Apolipoprotein A-I binding protein) on NMDAR, which will be evaluated by measuring the membrane potential via the port-a-patch. It was hypothesized that the simultaneous application of both the NMDA agonist and AIBP would lead to a significant inhibition of the NMDAR. The Patch-clamp electrophysiology technique was used to measure the membrane potential and thus the impact of AIBP on NMDAR. In this procedure, the cells/solutions were added onto the disposable recording chip, where a cell is automatically captured and sealed by suction using a computer-controlled pump. The membrane potentials for the NMDA agonist, independent application of AIBP, and the simultaneous application of NMDA agonist and AIBP were measured separately. The concurrent application of AIBP and NMDA agonist lead to consistent decline in amplitude and stabilization compared to control, supporting preexisting scientific literature. Based on these results, AIBP appears to effectively modulate the NMDA receptor leading to significant inhibition and stabilization of the NMDAR. The findings suggest that AIBP does play a role in modulating activation of the NMDAR. This study demonstrates preliminary evidence for the inhibitory role of AIBP on NMDAR. In future studies, we wish to evaluate the effect of AIBP on Tryp channels as well as in vivo studies.