Maïly Devilliers, Eric Chapuy, Florian Lesage, Florence Noble, Julien Schopp, Alain Eschalier, Jérôme Busserolles, Laura Poupon, Loïc Clémenceau, Laetitia Pouchol, Serge Richard, Mathieu Meleine, Sylvie Ducki, Celine Judon, Nicolas Marie, Ismail Ben Soussia, Stéphane Lolignier, Neuro-Dol (Neuro-Dol), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Clermont Auvergne [2017-2020] (UCA [2017-2020]), Institut de pharmacologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IPMC), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Neuroplasticité et thérapie des addictions (ERL 3649), Toxicité environnementale, cibles thérapeutiques, signalisation cellulaire (T3S - UMR_S 1124), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Centre de Recherches Biologiques [Baugy] (CERB), Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF), SIGMA Clermont (SIGMA Clermont)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université Clermont Auvergne [2017-2020] (UCA [2017-2020])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Neuro-Dol - Clermont Auvergne (Neuro-Dol), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Centre de Recherches Biologiques, CERB, Chemin de Montifault, 18800 Baugy, France., Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand - Clermont Auvergne (ICCF), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)-Sigma CLERMONT (Sigma CLERMONT), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (... - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015 - 2019) (COMUE UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Sigma CLERMONT (Sigma CLERMONT)-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Lolignier, Stéphane
International audience; Background and Purpose: Opioids are effective painkillers. However, their risk-benefit ratio is dampened by numerous adverse effects and opioid misuse has led to a public health crisis. Safer alternatives are required, but isolating the antinociceptive effect of opioids from their adverse effects is a pharmacological challenge because activation of the μ opioid receptor triggers both the antinociceptive and adverse effects of opioids. Experimental Approach: The TREK1 potassium channel is activated downstream of μ receptor and involved in the antinociceptive activity of morphine but not in its adverse effects. Bypassing the μ opioid receptor to directly activate TREK1 could therefore be a safer analgesic strategy. Key Results: We developed a selective TREK1 activator, RNE28, with antinociceptive activity in naive rodents and in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. This activity was lost in TREK1 knockout mice or wild-type mice treated with the TREK1 blocker spadin, showing that TREK1 is required for the antinociceptive activity of RNE28. RNE28 did not induce respiratory depression, constipation, rewarding effects, or sedation at the analgesic doses tested. Conclusion and Implications: This proof-of-concept study shows that TREK1 activators could constitute a novel class of painkillers, inspired by the mechanism of action of opioids but devoid of their adverse effects.