Sant Pau - Institut de Recerca

Main lines of research

Chronic pain is an important clinical problem due to the low efficacy of conventional treatments and their numerous side effects.

Chronic pain is also accompanied by affective disorders such as depression, anxiety and memory deficits, which exert a negative influence on the perception of pain, creating a vicious circle that contributes to the impairment in the quality of life of patients.

At present, the treatment of chronic pain and the linked emotional disorders is a major challenge.

Our main objective is to find new treatments that effectively relieve chronic pain and the associated comorbidities by using pharmacological, molecular and genetic techniques.

Main research lines:

New strategies for the treatment of chronic pain. To identify new drugs capable of alleviating inflammatory, osteoarthritis, and/or neuropathic pain in different preclinical pain models and to investigate the precise mechanisms underlying their effects.

New therapies for the emotional disorders associated with chronic pain. To investigate the role played by different gaseous neurotransmitters in the modulation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and/or the cognitive deficits accompanying persistent chronic pain.

Neuropharmacology of opioids and cannabinoids. To establish new strategies to potentate the analgesic effects of opioids and cannabinoids during chronic pain, avoiding the development of side effects that result from the administration of high and/or continued doses of these drugs.

New stratagems for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. To identify new approaches to inhibit oxidative stress and neuropathy, two of the major complications associated with diabetes, by evaluating the therapeutic action of specific molecules in different preclinical models of diabetes.

Challenges

To identify new pharmacological compounds that effectively abolish chronic pain with few side effects and for wich their use can be transfered to clinical practice and/or be patentable. To evaluate the analgesic, antidepressant and/or anxiolytic effects of hydrogen sulfide donors in animals with chronic pain; the mechanism of action of these compounds in specific areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems; and their effects on the functional disability linked with chronic osteoarthritis pain.

Oxidative stress is one of the principal mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. To identify new antioxidant compounds as potential therapeutic targets and to evaluate their effects on proinflammatory signals and plasticity changes provoked by nerve injuries, chemotherapeutic agents or metabolic disorders.

To evaluate the neurotrophic and antioxidant mechanisms implicated in the modulation of inflammatory pain in the central nervous system and to study the role played by the activation of the heme oxygenase 1/carbon monoxide signaling pathway in pain aversion.

To advance the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the analgesic effects of opioids and cannabinoids. To enhance the analgesic actions of μ- and δ-opioid receptor agonists and cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists in chronic pain through their coadministration with specific activators of gaseous neurotransmitters.

Group coordination

POL RIGAU, OLGA IR
opol@santpau.cat

Members

Barcena Espla, Alejandra UAB
Kordikowski Boix, Rebecca UAB
Martinez Martel, Ignacio UAB
Negrini Ferrari, Sylmara Esther UAB

Publications 2022

(JIF 2022)

Bai X, Batalle G, Balboni G, Pol O. Hydrogen Sulfide Increases the Analgesic Effects of mu- and delta-Opioid Receptors during Neuropathic Pain: Pathways Implicated. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(7):1321. DOI:10.3390/antiox11071321. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Batallé G, Bai X, Pol O. The Interaction between Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide during Chronic Joint Pain in Young Female Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(7):1271. DOI:10.3390/antiox11071271. PMID:35883761. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Cazuza RA, Batalle G, Bai X, Leite C, Pol O. Effects of treatment with a carbon monoxide donor and an activator of heme oxygenase 1 on the nociceptive, apoptotic and/or oxidative alterations induced by persistent inflammatory pain in the central nervous system of mice. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN. 2022; 188. DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.004. PMID:35952846. IF:3,8 (Q2/5D). Document type: Article.
Coral S, Martinez I, Martinez M, Batalle G, Bai X, Leite C, Pol O. Treatment with Hydrogen-Rich Water Improves the Nociceptive and Anxio-Depressive-like Behaviors Associated with Chronic Inflammatory Pain in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(11):2153. DOI:10.3390/antiox11112153. PMID:36358525. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Martinez I, Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. New Treatment for the Cognitive and Emotional Deficits Linked with Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(12):2387. DOI:10.3390/antiox11122387. PMID:36552595. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Martinez M, Martinez I, Coral S, Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. Hydrogen-Rich Water as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for the Affective Disorders Linked with Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(9):1826. DOI:10.3390/antiox11091826. PMID:36139900. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Pol O. CO and pain management. In: Carbon Monoxide in Drug Discovery: Basics, Pharmacology, And Therapeutic Potential. Wiley. 2022. p. 497-510. DOI:10.1002/9781119783435.ch29. Document type: Book chapter.
Pouso E, Bai X, Batallé G, Roch G, Pol O. Effects of heme oxygenase 1 in the molecular changes and neuropathy associated with type 2 diabetes in mice. BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2022; 199:114987. DOI:10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114987. PMID:35276215. IF:5,8 (Q1/2D). Document type: Article.
Roch G, Batalle G, Bai X, Pouso E, Rodriguez L, Pol O. The Beneficial Effects of Heme Oxygenase 1 and Hydrogen Sulfide Activation in the Management of Neuropathic Pain, Anxiety- and Depressive-like Effects of Paclitaxel in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(1):122. DOI:10.3390/antiox11010122. PMID:35052626. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.

Publications 2021

Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. The Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects of Diallyl Disulfide and GYY4137 in Animals with Chronic Neuropathic Pain. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(7):1074. DOI:10.3390/antiox10071074. PMID:34356307. IF: 7,675
Batalle G, Bai X, Pouso E, Roch G, Rodriguez L, Pol O. The Recovery of Cognitive and Affective Deficiencies Linked with Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain and Implicated Pathways by Slow-Releasing Hydrogen Sulfide Treatment. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(10):1632. DOI:10.3390/antiox10101632. PMID:34679766. IF: 7,675
Cazuza RA, Arantes A, Pol O, Leite C. HO-CO pathway activation may be associated with hippocampal mu and delta opioid receptors in inhibiting inflammatory pain aversiveness and nociception in WT but not NOS2-KO mice. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN. 2021; 169. DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.01.002. PMID:33422660. IF: 3,715
Ferreira-Chamorro P, Redondo A, Riego G, Pol O. Treatment with 5-fluoro-2-oxindole Increases the Antinociceptive Effects of Morphine and Inhibits Neuropathic Pain. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2021;41(5):995-1008. DOI:10.1007/s10571-020-00952-w. PMID: 32880099. IF: 4,231
Pol O. The role of carbon monoxide, heme oxygenase 1, and the Nrf2 transcription factor in the modulation of chronic pain and their interactions with opioids and cannabinoids. MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS. 2021;41(1):136-155. DOI:10.1002/med.21726. PMID: 32820550. FI: 12,388
Porta A, Rodriguez L, Bai X, Batalle G, Roch G, Pouso E, Balboni G, Pol O. Hydrogen Sulfide Inhibits Inflammatory Pain and Enhances the Analgesic Properties of Delta Opioid Receptors. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(12):1977. DOI:10.3390/antiox10121977. PMID:34943080. IF: 7,675

2017 Scientific Report – Molecular Neuropharmacology

Introduction

Main lines of research

Chronic pain is an important clinical problem due to the low efficacy of conventional treatments and their numerous side effects.

At present, the treatment of chronic pain and the linked emotional disorders is a major challenge.

Our main objective is to find new treatments that effectively relieve chronic pain and the associated comorbidities by using pharmacological, molecular and genetic techniques.

Main research lines:

New strategies for the treatment of chronic pain. To identify new drugs capable of alleviating inflammatory, osteoarthritis, and/or neuropathic pain in different preclinical pain models and to investigate the precise mechanisms underlying their effects.

New therapies for the emotional disorders associated with chronic pain. To investigate the role played by different gaseous neurotransmitters in the modulation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and/or the cognitive deficits accompanying persistent chronic pain.

Neuropharmacology of opioids and cannabinoids. To establish new strategies to potentate the analgesic effects of opioids and cannabinoids during chronic pain, avoiding the development of side effects that result from the administration of high and/or continued doses of these drugs.

New stratagems for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. To identify new approaches to inhibit oxidative stress and neuropathy, two of the major complications associated with diabetes, by evaluating the therapeutic action of specific molecules in different preclinical models of diabetes.

Challenges

To identify new pharmacological compounds that effectively abolish chronic pain with few side effects and for wich their use can be transfered to clinical practice and/or be patentable. To evaluate the analgesic, antidepressant and/or anxiolytic effects of hydrogen sulfide donors in animals with chronic pain; the mechanism of action of these compounds in specific areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems; and their effects on the functional disability linked with chronic osteoarthritis pain.

Oxidative stress is one of the principal mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. To identify new antioxidant compounds as potential therapeutic targets and to evaluate their effects on proinflammatory signals and plasticity changes provoked by nerve injuries, chemotherapeutic agents or metabolic disorders.

To evaluate the neurotrophic and antioxidant mechanisms implicated in the modulation of inflammatory pain in the central nervous system and to study the role played by the activation of the heme oxygenase 1/carbon monoxide signaling pathway in pain aversion.

To advance the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the analgesic effects of opioids and cannabinoids. To enhance the analgesic actions of μ- and δ-opioid receptor agonists and cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists in chronic pain through their coadministration with specific activators of gaseous neurotransmitters.

Team

Group coordination

POL RIGAU, OLGA IR
opol@santpau.cat

Members

Barcena Espla, Alejandra UAB
Kordikowski Boix, Rebecca UAB
Martinez Martel, Ignacio UAB
Negrini Ferrari, Sylmara Esther UAB

Scientific output

Publications 2022

(JIF 2022)

Bai X, Batalle G, Balboni G, Pol O. Hydrogen Sulfide Increases the Analgesic Effects of mu- and delta-Opioid Receptors during Neuropathic Pain: Pathways Implicated. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(7):1321. DOI:10.3390/antiox11071321. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Batallé G, Bai X, Pol O. The Interaction between Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide during Chronic Joint Pain in Young Female Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(7):1271. DOI:10.3390/antiox11071271. PMID:35883761. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Cazuza RA, Batalle G, Bai X, Leite C, Pol O. Effects of treatment with a carbon monoxide donor and an activator of heme oxygenase 1 on the nociceptive, apoptotic and/or oxidative alterations induced by persistent inflammatory pain in the central nervous system of mice. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN. 2022; 188. DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.004. PMID:35952846. IF:3,8 (Q2/5D). Document type: Article.
Coral S, Martinez I, Martinez M, Batalle G, Bai X, Leite C, Pol O. Treatment with Hydrogen-Rich Water Improves the Nociceptive and Anxio-Depressive-like Behaviors Associated with Chronic Inflammatory Pain in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(11):2153. DOI:10.3390/antiox11112153. PMID:36358525. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Martinez I, Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. New Treatment for the Cognitive and Emotional Deficits Linked with Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(12):2387. DOI:10.3390/antiox11122387. PMID:36552595. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Martinez M, Martinez I, Coral S, Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. Hydrogen-Rich Water as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for the Affective Disorders Linked with Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(9):1826. DOI:10.3390/antiox11091826. PMID:36139900. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.
Pol O. CO and pain management. In: Carbon Monoxide in Drug Discovery: Basics, Pharmacology, And Therapeutic Potential. Wiley. 2022. p. 497-510. DOI:10.1002/9781119783435.ch29. Document type: Book chapter.
Pouso E, Bai X, Batallé G, Roch G, Pol O. Effects of heme oxygenase 1 in the molecular changes and neuropathy associated with type 2 diabetes in mice. BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY. 2022; 199:114987. DOI:10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114987. PMID:35276215. IF:5,8 (Q1/2D). Document type: Article.
Roch G, Batalle G, Bai X, Pouso E, Rodriguez L, Pol O. The Beneficial Effects of Heme Oxygenase 1 and Hydrogen Sulfide Activation in the Management of Neuropathic Pain, Anxiety- and Depressive-like Effects of Paclitaxel in Mice. ANTIOXIDANTS. 2022; 11(1):122. DOI:10.3390/antiox11010122. PMID:35052626. IF:7 (Q1/1D). Document type: Article.

Publications 2021

Bai X, Batalle G, Pol O. The Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects of Diallyl Disulfide and GYY4137 in Animals with Chronic Neuropathic Pain. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(7):1074. DOI:10.3390/antiox10071074. PMID:34356307. IF: 7,675
Batalle G, Bai X, Pouso E, Roch G, Rodriguez L, Pol O. The Recovery of Cognitive and Affective Deficiencies Linked with Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain and Implicated Pathways by Slow-Releasing Hydrogen Sulfide Treatment. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(10):1632. DOI:10.3390/antiox10101632. PMID:34679766. IF: 7,675
Cazuza RA, Arantes A, Pol O, Leite C. HO-CO pathway activation may be associated with hippocampal mu and delta opioid receptors in inhibiting inflammatory pain aversiveness and nociception in WT but not NOS2-KO mice. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN. 2021; 169. DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.01.002. PMID:33422660. IF: 3,715
Ferreira-Chamorro P, Redondo A, Riego G, Pol O. Treatment with 5-fluoro-2-oxindole Increases the Antinociceptive Effects of Morphine and Inhibits Neuropathic Pain. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2021;41(5):995-1008. DOI:10.1007/s10571-020-00952-w. PMID: 32880099. IF: 4,231
Pol O. The role of carbon monoxide, heme oxygenase 1, and the Nrf2 transcription factor in the modulation of chronic pain and their interactions with opioids and cannabinoids. MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS. 2021;41(1):136-155. DOI:10.1002/med.21726. PMID: 32820550. FI: 12,388
Porta A, Rodriguez L, Bai X, Batalle G, Roch G, Pouso E, Balboni G, Pol O. Hydrogen Sulfide Inhibits Inflammatory Pain and Enhances the Analgesic Properties of Delta Opioid Receptors. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(12):1977. DOI:10.3390/antiox10121977. PMID:34943080. IF: 7,675

NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES, NEUROSCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH

Molecular Neuropharmacology

Main lines of research

Challenges

Group coordination

Members

Publications 2022

Publications 2021

Main lines of research

Challenges

Group coordination

Members

Publications 2022

Publications 2021

Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau