1
|
Matesanz-García L, Schmid AB, Cáceres-Pajuelo JE, Cuenca-Martínez F, Arribas-Romano A, González-Zamorano Y, Goicoechea-García C, Fernández-Carnero J. Effect of Physiotherapeutic Interventions on Biomarkers of Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Literature. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:1833-1855. [PMID: 35768044 PMCID: PMC7613788 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of physiotherapeutic interventions on biomarkers of neuropathic pain in preclinical models of peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP). The search was performed in Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane, Cinhal, Psycinfo, Scopus, Medline, and Science Direct. Studies evaluating any type of physiotherapy intervention for PNP (systemic or traumatic) were included. Eighty-one articles were included in this review. The most common PNP model was chronic constriction injury, and the most frequently studied biomarkers were related to neuro-immune processes. Exercise therapy and Electro-acupuncture were the 2 most frequently studied physiotherapy interventions while acupuncture and joint mobilization were less frequently examined. Most physiotherapeutic interventions modulated the expression of biomarkers related to neuropathic pain. Whereas the results seem promising; they have to be considered with caution due to the high risk of bias of included studies and high heterogeneity of the type and anatomical localization of biomarkers reported. The review protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019142878). PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the current evidence about physiotherapeutic interventions on biomarkers of neuropathic pain in preclinical models of peripheral neuropathic pain. Existing findings are reviewed, and relevant data are provided on the effectiveness of each physiotherapeutic modality, as well as its certainty of evidence and clinical applicability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Matesanz-García
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Annina B Schmid
- Nuffield Department for Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ferran Cuenca-Martínez
- Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Alberto Arribas-Romano
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain; Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yeray González-Zamorano
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain; Grupo de Investigación de Neurorrehabilitación del Daño Cerebral y los Trastornos del Movimiento (GINDAT), Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Josué Fernández-Carnero
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Investigación de Neurorrehabilitación del Daño Cerebral y los Trastornos del Movimiento (GINDAT), Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain; Motion in Brains Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Sciences of the Movement (INCIMOV), Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Grupo Multidisciplinar de Investigación y Tratamiento del Dolor, Grupo de Excelencia Investigadora URJC-Banco de Santander, Madrid, Spain; La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tan B, Wu X, Yu J, Chen Z. The Role of Saponins in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27123956. [PMID: 35745079 PMCID: PMC9227328 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain caused by tissue injury or disease involving the somatosensory nervous system, which seriously affects the patient's body function and quality of life. At present, most clinical medications for the treatment of neuropathic pain, including antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, or analgesics, often have limited efficacy and non-negligible side effects. As a bioactive and therapeutic component extracted from Chinese herbal medicine, the role of the effective compounds in the prevention and treatment of neuropathic pain have gradually become a research focus to explore new analgesics. Notably, saponins have shown analgesic effects in a large number of animal models. In this review, we summarized the most updated information of saponins, related to their analgesic effects in neuropathic pain, and the recent progress on the research of therapeutic targets and the potential mechanisms. Furthermore, we put up with some perspectives on future investigation to reveal the precise role of saponins in neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; (B.T.); (X.W.); (J.Y.)
| | - Xueqing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; (B.T.); (X.W.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jie Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; (B.T.); (X.W.); (J.Y.)
- School of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; (B.T.); (X.W.); (J.Y.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-571-88208228
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wei S, Chang S, Dong Y, Xu L, Yuan X, Jia H, Zhang J, Liang L. Electro-acupuncture Suppresses AXL Expression in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons and Enhances Analgesic Effect of AXL Inhibitor in Spinal Nerve Ligation Induced-Neuropathic Pain Rats. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:504-512. [PMID: 33387191 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-03185-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Electro-acupuncture (EA) has been used for clinic analgesia for many years. However, its mechanisms are not fully understood. We recently reported that AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor, contributes to the peripheral mechanism of neuropathic pain. We here aim to figure out the significance of EA on neuropathic pain mediated by AXL in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) was used as a neuropathic pain model. EA was applied at ''Huantiao'' (GB-30) and ''Yanglingquan'' (GB-34) acupoints for 30 min daily from day 7 to day 10 after SNL. EA not only gradually attenuated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia, but also suppressed the expression of phosphorylated AXL (p-AXL) and AXL in injured DRGs of SNL rats examined by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Moreover, intrathecal injection of the subthreshold dose of AXL inhibitor TP0903, significantly prolonged the analgesic time of single EA treatment and enhanced the analgesic effect of repeated EA treatments, suggesting a synergic effect of EA and AXL inhibitor. These results indicate that AXL signaling underlies EA analgesia and combination of AXL inhibitor and EA might be a new strategy for clinic analgesia on neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Wei
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, Research Center of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Stomatology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuyang Chang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Dong
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Linping Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaocui Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Jia
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingli Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Han X, Wang L, Shi H, Zheng G, He J, Wu W, Shi J, Wei G, Zheng W, Sun J, Huang H, Cai Z. Acupuncture combined with methylcobalamin for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:40. [PMID: 28068938 PMCID: PMC5223334 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-3037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) seriously affects the quality of life of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) as well as the response rate to chemotherapy. Acupuncture has a potential role in the treatment of CIPN, but at present there have been no randomized clinical research studies to analyze the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of CIPN, particularly in MM patients. Methods The MM patients (104 individuals) who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into a solely methylcobalamin therapy group (500 μg intramuscular methylcobalamin injections every other day for 20 days; ten injections) followed by 2 months of 500 μg oral methylcobalamin administration, three times per day) and an acupuncture combined with methylcobalamin (Met + Acu) group (methylcobalamin used the same way as above accompanied by three cycles of acupuncture). Of the patients, 98 out of 104 completed the treatment and follow-ups. There were 49 patients in each group. The evaluating parameters included the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (Fact/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire scores, and electromyographic (EMG) nerve conduction velocity (NCV) determinations. We evaluated the changes of the parameters in each group before and after the therapies and made a comparison between the two groups. Results After 84 days (three cycles) of therapy, the pain was significantly alleviated in both groups, with a significantly higher decrease in the acupuncture treated group (P < 0.01). The patients’ daily activity evaluated by Fact/GOG-Ntx questionnaires significantly improved in the Met + Acu group (P < 0.001). The NCV in the Met + Acu group improved significantly while amelioration in the control group was not observed. Conclusions The present study suggests that acupuncture combined with methylcobalamin in the treatment of CIPN showed a better outcome than methylcobalamin administration alone. Trial registration China Clinical Trials Register (registration no. ChiCTR-INR-16009079, registration date August 24, 2016).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Han
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China.,Present Address: Department of Hematology, Hematology Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Shandong University, Linyi, 276002, China
| | - Hongfei Shi
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Gaofeng Zheng
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jingsong He
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Wenjun Wu
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jimin Shi
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Guoqing Wei
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Weiyan Zheng
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - He Huang
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Zhen Cai
- Multiple Myeloma Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
The Effect of Repeated Electroacupuncture Analgesia on Neurotrophic and Cytokine Factors in Neuropathic Pain Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2016; 2016:8403064. [PMID: 27800006 PMCID: PMC5069362 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8403064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a common disability influencing quality of life. Results of previous studies showed that acupuncture has a cumulative analgesic effect, but the relationship with spinal cytokines neurotrophic factors released by astrocytes remains unknown. The present study was designed to observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on spinal cytokines neurotrophic factors in chronic neuropathic pain rats. The chronic neuropathic pain was established by chronic constrictive injury (CCI). EA treatment was applied at Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) (both bilateral) once a day, for 30 min. IL-1β mRNA, TNF-α mRNA, and IL-1 mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, and the proteins of BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of cytokines such as IL-1β mRNA, TNF-α mRNA, IL-6 mRNA, and neurotrophic factors such as BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 in the spinal cord were increased significantly after CCI. The astrocytes released more IL-1β and BDNF after CCI. Repeated EA treatment could suppress the elevated expression of IL-1β mRNA, TNFα mRNA, and BDNF, NGF, and NT3/4 but had no effect on IL-6 mRNA. It is suggested that cytokines and neurotrophic factors which may be closely associated with astrocytes participated in the process of EA relieving chronic pain.
Collapse
|
6
|
Meng W, Deshmukh HA, van Zuydam NR, Liu Y, Donnelly LA, Zhou K, Morris AD, Colhoun HM, Palmer CNA, Smith BH. A genome-wide association study suggests an association of Chr8p21.3 (GFRA2) with diabetic neuropathic pain. Eur J Pain 2015; 19:392-9. [PMID: 24974787 PMCID: PMC4737240 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Neuropathic pain, caused by a lesion or a disease affecting the somatosensory system, is one of the most common complications in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study is to identify genetic factors contributing to this type of pain in a general diabetic population. Method We accessed the Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research Tayside (GoDARTS) datasets that contain prescription information and monofilament test results for 9439 diabetic patients, among which 6927 diabetic individuals were genotyped by Affymetrix SNP6.0 or Illumina OmniExpress chips. Cases of neuropathic pain were defined as diabetic patients with a prescription history of at least one of five drugs specifically indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain and in whom monofilament test result was positive for sensory neuropathy in at least one foot. Controls were individuals who did not have a record of receiving any opioid analgesics. Imputation of non‐genotyped SNPs was performed by IMPUTE2, with reference files from 1000 Genomes Phase I datasets. Results After data cleaning and relevant exclusions, imputed genotypes of 572 diabetic neuropathic pain cases and 2491 diabetic controls were used in the Fisher's exact test. We identified a cluster in the Chr8p21.3, next to GFRA2 with a lowest p‐value of 1.77 × 10−7 at rs17428041. The narrow‐sense heritability of this phenotype was 11.00%. Conclusion This genome‐wide association study on diabetic neuropathic pain suggests new evidence for the involvement of variants near GFRA2 with the disorder, which needs to be verified in an independent cohort and at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Meng
- Division of Population Health Sciences, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Dundee, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Du F, Liu S. Electroacupuncture with high frequency at acupoint ST-36 induces regeneration of lost enteric neurons in diabetic rats via GDNF and PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2015; 309:R109-18. [PMID: 25972459 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00396.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoint ST-36 (Zusanli) has been used to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve gastrointestinal motility, but the effects and mechanisms of EA on enteric nervous system (ENS) have scarcely been investigated. SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: normal control group, diabetes mellitus group (DM), chronic high-frequency EA (C-HEA), chronic low-frequency EA (C-LEA), chronic sham stimulation group (C-SEA), acute high-frequency EA group (A-HEA), acute low-frequency EA group (A-LEA), and diabetic with acute sham stimulation group (A-SEA). The parameters of HEA included a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of 1 mA, while the parameters for LEA were 10 Hz and 1 mA. The expressions of PGP9.5, neuronal nitric oxide synthase neurons, CHAT neurons, glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and p-Akt were measured by immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and Western blotting methods in colon tissues of each rat. The total neurons and the two types of enteric neurons (neuronal nitric oxide synthase and choline acetyl transferase neurons), together with GDNF and p-Akt in the mRNA and protein level were significantly decreased in DM group compared with the normal control group in colon (P < 0.01). Compared with DM or all other DM with EA groups, the chronic HEA could induce a more significant quantitative increase in the mRNA and protein level of the enteric neurons and GDNF and p-Akt in colon (P < 0.01). EA with high-frequency and long-term stimuli at acupoint ST-36 can induce regeneration of lost enteric neurons in diabetic rats, and GDNF and PI3K/Akt signal pathway may play an important role in EA-induced regeneration of impaired enteric neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Du
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shi Liu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fan XW, Chen F, Chen Y, Chen GH, Liu HH, Guan SK, Deng Y, Liu Y, Zhang SJ, Peng WJ, Jiang GL, Wu KL. Electroacupuncture prevents cognitive impairments by regulating the early changes after brain irradiation in rats. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122087. [PMID: 25830357 PMCID: PMC4382177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairments severely affect the quality of life of patients who undergo brain irradiation, and there are no effective preventive strategies. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of electroacupuncture (EA) administered immediately after brain irradiation in rats. We detected changes in cognitive function, neurogenesis, and synaptic density at different time points after irradiation, but found that EA could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inhibit neuroinflammatory cytokine expression, upregulate angiogenic cytokine expression, and modulate the levels of neurotransmitter receptors and neuropeptides in the early phase. Moreover, EA protected spatial memory and recognition in the delayed phase. At the cellular/molecular level, the preventative effect of EA on cognitive dysfunction was not dependent on hippocampal neurogenesis; rather, it was related to synaptophysin expression. Our results suggest that EA applied immediately after brain irradiation can prevent cognitive impairments by protecting against the early changes induced by irradiation and may be a novel approach for preventing or ameliorating cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumors who require radiotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Wen Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Fu Chen
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Guan-Hao Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Huan-Huan Liu
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Shi-Kuo Guan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Yun Deng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Sheng-Jian Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Wei-Jun Peng
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Guo-Liang Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
| | - Kai-Liang Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China, 200032
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200032
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Combination of electroacupuncture and grafted mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing TrkC improves remyelination and function in demyelinated spinal cord of rats. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9133. [PMID: 25779025 PMCID: PMC5390924 DOI: 10.1038/srep09133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study attempted to graft neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) receptor (TrkC) gene modified mesenchymal stem cells (TrkC-MSCs) into the demyelinated spinal cord and to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could promote NT-3 secretion in the demyelinated spinal cord as well as further enhance grafted TrkC-MSCs to differentiate into oligodendrocytes, remyelination and functional recovery. Ethidium bromide (EB) was microinjected into the spinal cord of rats at T10 to establish a demyelinated model. Six groups of animals were prepared for the experiment: the sham, PBS, MSCs, MSCs+EA, TrkC-MSCs and TrkC-MSCs+EA groups. The results showed that TrkC-MSCs graft combined with EA treatment (TrkC-MSCs+EA group) significantly increased the number of OPCs and oligodendrocyte-like cells differentiated from MSCs. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the oligodendrocyte-like cells differentiated from TrkC-MSCs formed myelin sheaths. Immunofluorescence histochemistry and Western blot analysis indicated that TrkC-MSCs+EA treatment could promote the myelin basic protein (MBP) expression and Kv1.2 arrangement trending towards the normal level. Furthermore, behavioural test and cortical motor evoked potentials detection demonstrated a significant functional recovery in the TrkC-MSCs+EA group. In conclusion, our results suggest that EA treatment can increase NT-3 expression, promote oligodendrocyte-like cell differentiation from TrkC-MSCs, remyelination and functional improvement of demyelinated spinal cord.
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
In the last decade, preclinical investigations of electroacupuncture mechanisms on persistent tissue injury (inflammatory), nerve injury (neuropathic), cancer, and visceral pain have increased. These studies show that electroacupuncture activates the nervous system differently in health than in pain conditions, alleviates both sensory and affective inflammatory pain, and inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain more effectively at 2 to 10 Hz than at 100 Hz. Electroacupuncture blocks pain by activating a variety of bioactive chemicals through peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal mechanisms. These include opioids, which desensitize peripheral nociceptors and reduce proinflammatory cytokines peripherally and in the spinal cord, and serotonin and norepinephrine, which decrease spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit GluN1 phosphorylation. Additional studies suggest that electroacupuncture, when combined with low dosages of conventional analgesics, provides effective pain management which can forestall the side effects of often-debilitating pharmaceuticals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruixin Zhang
- Assistant Professor, Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lixing Lao
- Professor, Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ke Ren
- Professor, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, Dental School, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brian M. Berman
- Professor, Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Effect of electroacupuncture on rats with chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:129875. [PMID: 24605047 PMCID: PMC3925545 DOI: 10.1155/2014/129875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We adopt the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model to induce neuropathic pain to Spragrue-Dawley (SD) rats by ligating the right sciatic nerve of using four 4-0 chromic gut sutures and subsequently applying 2 and 15 Hz electroacupuncture (EA), respectively, to the right (ipsilateral) Zusanli (St-36) and Shangjuxu (St-37) acupoints. The results of this study are summarized as follows: (1) the differences in withdrawal latencies for the radiant heat test and total lift leg counts for the cold plate test (4°C) of the control (i.e., non-EA) and sham groups were greater than those of the 2 Hz EA (2EA) and 15 Hz EA (15EA) groups; (2) the von Frey test filament gram counts of the control and sham groups were less than those of the 2EA and 15EA groups on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day following ligation; and (3) the 2EA and 15EA groups exhibited reduced cerebral transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) expressions, although we did not observe a similar effect for cerebral TRPV1 or spinal TRPV4/TRPV1 expressions. These findings show that 2 and 15 Hz EA can reduce CCI-induced neuropathic pain, which indicates that various spinal segmental and gate effects have a crucial function in pain reduction. The relationship between EA and TRPV4/TRPV1 expression requires further study.
Collapse
|
12
|
Yang L, Yue N, Zhu X, Han Q, Liu Q, Yu J, Wu G. Electroacupuncture upregulates ERK signaling pathways and promotes adult hippocampal neural progenitors proliferation in a rat model of depression. Altern Ther Health Med 2013; 13:288. [PMID: 24165147 PMCID: PMC3813990 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background In this study, we investigate the proliferation of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rat model of depression, the effects of electroacupunture (EA) on depressive-like symptoms and the corresponding signaling pathways. Methods SD rats were subjected to 4 weeks of CUS to induce depressive-like behaviors. EA was performed at the Du-20 (Bai-Hui) and GB-34 (Yang-Ling-Quan) acupoints. Rats were injected with BrdU and the brains were cut into sections. Double-labeling with BrdU/Sox2 and p-ERK/Nestin was performed to demonstrate the in vivo proliferation of adult NSCs in hippocampus and ERK activation in NSCs. Hippocampal microdialysates of different groups were collected to observe the in vitro effects on NSCs. Results After 8 treatments, EA generated a clear antidepressant effect on the stressed rats and promoted the NSC proliferation. ERK activation might be involved in the antidepressant-like effects of EA treatment. Hippocampal microdialysates from EA-treated stressed rats influenced NSCs to form larger neural spheres and exhibit higher p-ERK level in vitro, compared to the untreated stressed rats. Meanwhile, the antidepressant-like effects of EA involved contribution from both acupoint specificity and electrical stimulus. Conclusions EA might interfere with the hippocampal microenvironment and enhance the activation of ERK signaling pathways. This could mediate, at least in part, the beneficial effects of EA on NSC proliferation and depressive-like behaviors.
Collapse
|
13
|
Dong Z, Sun Y, Lu P, Wang Y, Wu G. Electroacupuncture and lumbar transplant of GDNF-secreting fibroblasts synergistically attenuate hyperalgesia after sciatic nerve constriction. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2013; 41:459-72. [PMID: 23711135 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x1350033x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to induce potent analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in both patients and rodents. Cell therapy to release antinociceptive agents near the pain processing centers of the spinal cord is a promising next step in the development of treatment modalities. This study investigated the effects of the combination of EA and cell therapy by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on neuropathic pain in rats. The hyperalgesic state was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and fibroblasts genetically modified to secrete bioactive GDNF (FBs-GDNF) were used for cell therapy. Fifty-eight rats with neuropathic pain were randomly divided into five groups (CCI+PBS, n = 11; CCI+FBs-GDNF, n = 12; CCI+EA+PBS, n = 11; CCI+EA+FBs-pLNCX2, n = 12; CCI+EA+FBs-GDNF, n = 12). On the 7th day after CCI, the rats received intrathecal transplantation of FBs-GDNF or control fibroblasts (FBs-pLNCX2). In the meantime, EA was administered once every other day from the 7th day after CCI surgery for 21 days. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat was measured every other day. The results showed that the ipsilateral PWL of the rats from all three EA treatment groups significantly increased starting on the 12th day compared with the PBS control group. Strikingly, the group which received EA treatment and FBs-GDNF transplantation (CCI+EA+FBs-GDNF) showed a significantly decreased thermal hyperalgesia after 2 weeks post CCI surgery compared with the groups which received EA treatment and FBs-pLNCX2 transplantation (CCI+EA+FBs-pLNCX2) or PBS (CCI+EA+PBS) as well as the FBs-GDNF transplantation group without EA treatment (CCI+FBs-GDNF). Our data suggest that EA and cell therapy can synergistically attenuate hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Affiliation(s)
- Wol Seon Jung
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Namdong Ku, Incheon, Korea
| | - Lucy Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
A systematic review of experimental and clinical acupuncture in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:516916. [PMID: 23983788 PMCID: PMC3741953 DOI: 10.1155/2013/516916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect that can be very disabling and can limit or delay the dose of chemotherapy that can be administered. Acupuncture may be effective for treating peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this study was to review the available literature on the use of acupuncture for CIPN. The systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Database, CINHAL, and ISI Proceedings. Hand searching was conducted, and consensus was reached on all extracted data. Only papers in the English language were included, irrespective of study design. From 3989 retrieved papers, 8 relevant papers were identified. One was an experimental study which showed that electroacupuncture suppressed CIPN pain in rats. In addition, there were 7 very heterogeneous clinical studies, 1 controlled randomised study using auricular acupuncture, 2 randomized controlled studies using somatic acupuncture, and 3 case series/case reports which suggested a positive effect of acupuncture in CIPN. Conclusions. Only one controlled randomised study demonstrated that acupuncture may be beneficial for CIPN. All the clinical studies reviewed had important methodological limitations. Further studies with robust methodology are needed to demonstrate the role of acupuncture for treating CIPN resulting from cancer treatment.
Collapse
|
16
|
Reichling DB, Green PG, Levine JD. The fundamental unit of pain is the cell. Pain 2013; 154 Suppl 1:S2-9. [PMID: 23711480 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The molecular/genetic era has seen the discovery of a staggering number of molecules implicated in pain mechanisms [18,35,61,69,96,133,150,202,224]. This has stimulated pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to invest billions of dollars to develop drugs that enhance or inhibit the function of many these molecules. Unfortunately this effort has provided a remarkably small return on this investment. Inevitably, transformative progress in this field will require a better understanding of the functional links among the ever-growing ranks of "pain molecules," as well as their links with an even larger number of molecules with which they interact. Importantly, all of these molecules exist side-by-side, within a functional unit, the cell, and its adjacent matrix of extracellular molecules. To paraphrase a recent editorial in Science magazine [223], although we live in the Golden age of Genetics, the fundamental unit of biology is still arguably the cell, and the cell is the critical structural and functional setting in which the function of pain-related molecules must be understood. This review summarizes our current understanding of the nociceptor as a cell-biological unit that responds to a variety of extracellular inputs with a complex and highly organized interaction of signaling molecules. We also discuss the insights that this approach is providing into peripheral mechanisms of chronic pain and sex dependence in pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David B Reichling
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neuroscience, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Division of Neuroscience, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ding Y, Yan Q, Ruan JW, Zhang YQ, Li WJ, Zeng X, Huang SF, Zhang YJ, Wu JL, Fisher D, Dong H, Zeng YS. Electroacupuncture Promotes the Differentiation of Transplanted Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Overexpressing TrkC into Neuron-Like Cells in Transected Spinal Cord of Rats. Cell Transplant 2013; 22:65-86. [DOI: 10.3727/096368912x655037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previous study indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) could increase neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) levels in the injured spinal cord, stimulate the differentiation of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and improve functional recovery in the injured spinal cord of rats. However, the number of neuron-like cells derived from the MSCs is limited. It is known that NT-3 promotes the survival and differentiation of neurons by preferentially binding to its receptor TrkC. In this study, we attempted to transplant TrkC gene-modified MSCs (TrkC-MSCs) into the spinal cord with transection to investigate whether EA treatment could promote NT-3 secretion in the injured spinal cord and to determine whether increased NT-3 could further enhance transplanted MSCs overexpressing TrkC to differentiate into neuron-like cells, resulting in increased axonal regeneration and functional improvement in the injured spinal cord. Our results showed that EA increased NT-3 levels; furthermore, it promoted neuron-phenotype differentiation, synaptogenesis, and myelin formation of transplanted TrkC-MSCs. In addition, TrkC-MSC transplantation combined with EA (the TrkC-MSCs + EA group) treatment promoted the growth of the descending BDA-labeled corticospinal tracts (CSTs) and 5-HT-positive axonal regeneration across the lesion site into the caudal cord. In addition, the conduction of cortical motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and hindlimb locomotor function increased as compared to controls (treated with the LacZ-MSCs, TrkC-MSCs, and LacZ-MSCs + EA groups). In the TrkC-MSCs + EA group, the injured spinal cord also showed upregulated expression of the proneurogenic factors laminin and GAP-43 and downregulated GFAP and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), major inhibitors of axonal growth. Together, our data suggest that TrkC-MSC transplantation combined with EA treatment spinal cord injury not only increased MSC survival and differentiation into neuron-like cells but also promoted CST regeneration across injured sites to the caudal cord and functional improvement, perhaps due to increase of NT-3 levels, upregulation of laminin and GAP-43, and downregulation of GFAP and CSPG proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ding
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Yan
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Wen Ruan
- Department of Acupuncture of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Qing Zhang
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Jie Li
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Fan Huang
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Jiao Zhang
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Lang Wu
- Department of Electron Microscope, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danny Fisher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hongxin Dong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yuan-Shan Zeng
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Acupuncture Stimulation Induces Neurogenesis in Adult Brain. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2013; 111:67-90. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-411545-3.00004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
19
|
Leung L. Neurophysiological Basis of Acupuncture-induced Analgesia—An Updated Review. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2012; 5:261-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2012.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2011] [Accepted: 11/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
|
20
|
Lundborg C, Westerlund A, Björklund U, Biber B, Hansson E. Ifenprodil restores GDNF-evoked Ca(2+) signalling and Na(+)/K(+) -ATPase expression in inflammation-pretreated astrocytes. J Neurochem 2011; 119:686-96. [PMID: 21883228 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07465.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in neuroinflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions. Astrocytes produce and secrete GDNF, which interacts with its receptors to induce Ca(2+) transients. This study aimed first to assess intracellular Ca(2+) responses of astrocytes in primary culture when exposed to the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory peptide GDNF. Furthermore, incubation with the inflammatory inducers lipopolysaccharide (LPS), NMDA, or interleukin 1-β (IL-1β) attenuated the GDNF-induced Ca(2+) transients. The next aim was to try to restore the suppressed GDNF responses induced by inflammatory changes in the astrocytes with an anti-inflammatory substance. Ifenprodil, an NMDA receptor antagonist at the NR2B subunit, was tested. It was shown to restore the GDNF-evoked Ca(2+) transients and increased the Na(+)/K(+) -ATPase expression. Ifenprodil seems to be a potent anti-inflammatory substance for astrocytes which have been pre-activated by inflammatory stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Lundborg
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration-induced Expression of Pain-related Molecules. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 2011; 23:329-34. [DOI: 10.1097/ana.0b013e318220f033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
22
|
Liu Q, Li B, Zhu HY, Wang YQ, Yu J, Wu GC. Glia atrophy in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression model rats is reversed by electroacupuncture treatment. J Affect Disord 2011; 128:309-13. [PMID: 20801523 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2010.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Revised: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 07/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates that glia atrophy contributes to the pathophysiology and possibly the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder. Electroacupuncture (EA), one of Chinese traditional therapy, has potent antidepressant-like effect in many clinical studies. The mechanism by which EA improves behavioral deficits is still unclear. METHOD Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression model rats were used to study the effect of EA treatment. EA was performed on acupoints 'Bai-Hui' (Du 20) and unilateral 'An-Mian' (EX 17) once daily for three consecutive weeks, two weeks post CUS procedure. The antidepressant-like effect of EA treatment was analyzed by physical state (PS) and open field test (OFT). Astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) level in the hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS Exposure to CUS resulted in a decrease of behavioral activity, whereas a daily session of EA treatment significantly reversed the behavioral deficit of these depression model rats. Moreover, the levels of GFAP mRNA and protein were decreased in the hippocampus of depression model rats. Intriguingly, EA treatment blocked effectively the decreased GFAP level. LIMITATION The relative small number of the depression model rats may cause some bias of behavioral tests. CONCLUSION EA has potential antidepressant-like effect on CUS-induced depression model rats, which might be mediated by affecting the glial atrophy in the hippocampus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Neurotrophins in the cerebrospinal fluid of patient cohorts with neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain, or normal pressure hydrocephalus. Clin J Pain 2010; 25:729-33. [PMID: 19920725 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0b013e3181a776e4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The pathophysiology of neuropathic pain is still poorly understood. Studies in experimental animals showed that neurotrophic factors such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) might be involved in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. On the basis of these findings it is conceivable that neurotrophic factors also play a role in pain processing in man. Thus far, it remains unknown whether neurotrophic factors are altered in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with different pain syndromes. Here, we analyzed the concentrations of neurotrophic factors in the CSF of patients with chronic neuropathic pain in comparison to controls with nociceptive pain or hydrocephalus. METHODS The concentrations of GDNF, BDNF, CNTF, and NGF were analyzed in the lumbar CSF of 10 patients with chronic neuropathic pain, in 20 patients with lumbar back pain undergoing myelography, and in 10 patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus, by using enzymes-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. RESULTS The CSF concentrations of CNTF, BDNF, and NGF did not differ between the 3 patient cohorts. For GDNF a trend toward lower concentrations in neuropathic pain versus nociceptive back pain (P=0.17) was found. DISCUSSION We did not detect any difference between patients with neuropathic versus nociceptive pain and nonpainful controls for spinal CNTF, BDNF, and NGF levels. Lower GDNF concentrations found in neuropathic pain patients might be associated with increased receptor expression. Possible alterations of neurotrophic factors at spinal relays, however, might not be reflected adequately in changes of CSF concentrations.
Collapse
|
24
|
HWANG IK, CHUNG JY, YOO DY, YI SS, YOUN HY, SEONG JK, YOON YS. Comparing the Effects of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Baihui on Cell Proliferation and Neuroblast Differentiation in the Rat Hippocampus. J Vet Med Sci 2010; 72:279-84. [DOI: 10.1292/jvms.09-0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- In Koo HWANG
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
| | - Jin Young CHUNG
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University
| | - Dae Young YOO
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
| | - Sun Shin YI
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Marquette University
| | - Hwa Young YOUN
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University
| | - Je Kyung SEONG
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
| | - Yeo Sung YOON
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ding Y, Yan Q, Ruan JW, Zhang YQ, Li WJ, Zhang YJ, Li Y, Dong H, Zeng YS. Electro-acupuncture promotes survival, differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as well as functional recovery in the spinal cord-transected rats. BMC Neurosci 2009; 10:35. [PMID: 19374777 PMCID: PMC2679038 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Accepted: 04/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one of the potential tools for treatment of the spinal cord injury; however, the survival and differentiation of MSCs in an injured spinal cord still need to be improved. In the present study, we investigated whether Governor Vessel electro-acupuncture (EA) could efficiently promote bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) survival and differentiation, axonal regeneration and finally, functional recovery in the transected spinal cord. Results The spinal cords of adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were completely transected at T10, five experimental groups were performed: 1. sham operated control (Sham-control); 2. operated control (Op-control); 3. electro-acupuncture treatment (EA); 4. MSCs transplantation (MSCs); and 5. MSCs transplantation combined with electro-acupuncture (MSCs+EA). After 2-8 weeks of MSCs transplantation plus EA treatment, we found that the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), cAMP level, the differentiation of MSCs, the 5-HT positive and CGRP positive nerve fibers in the lesion site and nearby tissue of injured spinal cord were significantly increased in the MSCs+EA group as compared to the group of the MSCs transplantation or the EA treated alone. Furthermore, behavioral test and spinal cord evoked potentials detection demonstrated a significantly functional recovery in the MSCs +EA group. Conclusion These results suggest that EA treatment may promote grafted MSCs survival and differentiation; MSCs transplantation combined with EA treatment could promote axonal regeneration and partial locomotor functional recovery in the transected spinal cord in rats and indicate a promising avenue of treatment of spinal cord injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ding
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangzhou, PR China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Electroacupuncture Induced Spinal Plasticity is Linked to Multiple Gene Expressions in Dorsal Root Deafferented Rats. J Mol Neurosci 2008; 37:97-110. [PMID: 18581269 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-008-9095-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2008] [Accepted: 04/28/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
27
|
Zhao ZQ. Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Prog Neurobiol 2008; 85:355-75. [PMID: 18582529 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2008.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 679] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2007] [Revised: 03/19/2008] [Accepted: 05/30/2008] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Acupuncture has been accepted to effectively treat chronic pain by inserting needles into the specific "acupuncture points" (acupoints) on the patient's body. During the last decades, our understanding of how the brain processes acupuncture analgesia has undergone considerable development. Acupuncture analgesia is manifested only when the intricate feeling (soreness, numbness, heaviness and distension) of acupuncture in patients occurs following acupuncture manipulation. Manual acupuncture (MA) is the insertion of an acupuncture needle into acupoint followed by the twisting of the needle up and down by hand. In MA, all types of afferent fibers (Abeta, Adelta and C) are activated. In electrical acupuncture (EA), a stimulating current via the inserted needle is delivered to acupoints. Electrical current intense enough to excite Abeta- and part of Adelta-fibers can induce an analgesic effect. Acupuncture signals ascend mainly through the spinal ventrolateral funiculus to the brain. Many brain nuclei composing a complicated network are involved in processing acupuncture analgesia, including the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), periaqueductal grey (PAG), locus coeruleus, arcuate nucleus (Arc), preoptic area, nucleus submedius, habenular nucleus, accumbens nucleus, caudate nucleus, septal area, amygdale, etc. Acupuncture analgesia is essentially a manifestation of integrative processes at different levels in the CNS between afferent impulses from pain regions and impulses from acupoints. In the last decade, profound studies on neural mechanisms underlying acupuncture analgesia predominately focus on cellular and molecular substrate and functional brain imaging and have developed rapidly. Diverse signal molecules contribute to mediating acupuncture analgesia, such as opioid peptides (mu-, delta- and kappa-receptors), glutamate (NMDA and AMPA/KA receptors), 5-hydroxytryptamine, and cholecystokinin octapeptide. Among these, the opioid peptides and their receptors in Arc-PAG-NRM-spinal dorsal horn pathway play a pivotal role in mediating acupuncture analgesia. The release of opioid peptides evoked by electroacupuncture is frequency-dependent. EA at 2 and 100Hz produces release of enkephalin and dynorphin in the spinal cord, respectively. CCK-8 antagonizes acupuncture analgesia. The individual differences of acupuncture analgesia are associated with inherited genetic factors and the density of CCK receptors. The brain regions associated with acupuncture analgesia identified in animal experiments were confirmed and further explored in the human brain by means of functional imaging. EA analgesia is likely associated with its counter-regulation to spinal glial activation. PTX-sesntive Gi/o protein- and MAP kinase-mediated signal pathways as well as the downstream events NF-kappaB, c-fos and c-jun play important roles in EA analgesia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qi Zhao
- Institute of Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chou YH, Chao PL, Tsai MJ, Cheng HH, Chen KB, Yang DM, Yang CH, Lin AMY. Arsenite-induced cytotoxicity in dorsal root ganglion explants. Free Radic Biol Med 2008; 44:1553-61. [PMID: 18226606 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2007] [Revised: 11/20/2007] [Accepted: 12/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy is common in people chronically overexposed to arsenic. We studied sodium arsenite (arsenite)-induced cytotoxicity in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explants. Incubation with arsenite concentration- and time-dependently increased the expression of stress proteins, heat shock protein 70, and heme oxygenase-1 in DRG explants. Furthermore, apoptosis was involved in the arsenite-induced cytotoxicity in the treated DRG. Elevation in cytosolic cytochrome c levels and reduction in procaspase 3 levels suggested an involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in arsenite-induced apoptosis in this preparation. At the same time, increases in the activating transcription factor-4 and C/EBP homologous protein and reduction in procaspase 12 levels indicated activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway in the arsenite-induced cytotoxicity in DRG explants. Salubrinal (30 microM), an ER inhibitor, was found to attenuate arsenite-induced DNA fragmentation and reduction in procaspase 12 in DRG explants. Cytotoxic effects by arsenite, sodium arsenate (arsenate), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were compared, and the potency was as follows: arsenite >>> arsenate>MMA and DMA. Recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding glial-cell-derived neurotrophic factor (AdGDNF) genes allowed a stable delivery of GDNF genes to the infected cells in DRG explants. Applied in this manner, AdGDNF was found to inhibit arsenite-induced DNA fragmentation in DRG explants. Moreover, AdGDNF attenuated the arsenite-induced reduction in procaspases 3 and 12 levels. Taken together, our study demonstrates that arsenite is capable of inducing cytotoxicity in DRG explants. Both ER and mitochondria pathways are involved in the arsenite-induced apoptosis in DRG explants. Glial-cell-derived neurotrophic factor appears to be protective against arsenite-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y H Chou
- Department of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Liu Q, Yu J, Mi WL, Mao-Ying QL, Yang R, Wang YQ, Wu GC. Electroacupuncture attenuates the decrease of hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation in the adult rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Life Sci 2007; 81:1489-95. [PMID: 17976657 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2007.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2007] [Revised: 07/18/2007] [Accepted: 08/24/2007] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) was beneficial to extenuate the behavioral deficit in a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and to observe the effect of EA on progenitor cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus. EA was performed on acupoints "Bai-Hui" (Du 20) and unilateral "An-Mian" (EX 17) once daily for 3 consecutive weeks, 2 weeks post CUS procedure. Open field test and forced swimming test were employed to evaluate the behavioral activity during a stress period or EA treatment. The results revealed that exposure to CUS resulted in a decrease of behavioral activity, whilst a daily session of EA treatment significantly reversed the behavioral deficit of these depression model rats. Moreover, as shown by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling immunohistochemistry, hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation was decreased in the DG of depression model rats. Intriguingly, EA treatment effectively blocked this decrease. The study demonstrated a potential antidepressant-like effect of EA treatment on CUS induced depression model rats, which might be mediated by up-regulating the hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Liu
- Institute of Acupuncture Research WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Kitagawa J, Takeda M, Suzuki I, Kadoi J, Tsuboi Y, Honda K, Matsumoto S, Nakagawa H, Tanabe A, Iwata K. Mechanisms involved in modulation of trigeminal primary afferent activity in rats with peripheral mononeuropathy. Eur J Neurosci 2006; 24:1976-86. [PMID: 17040479 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05065.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In order to clarify the mechanisms underlying the changes in primary afferent neurons in trigeminal neuropathic pain, a chronic constriction nerve injury model of the infraorbital nerve (ION-CCI) was developed in rats. Mechanical allodynia was observed at 3 days after ION-CCI and lasted more than 14 days. Single-unit activities were recorded from the ION of anesthetized rats. C-, Abeta- and Adelta-units were identified on the basis of their conduction velocity. Adelta-units were frequently encountered at a later period after ION-CCI. The highest Adelta-spontaneous activity was recorded at 3 days after ION-CCI and progressively decreased after that, but spontaneous activity was still higher at 14 days after ION-CCI than that of naïve rats. Mechanical-evoked responses of Adelta-units were also highest at 3 days after ION-CCI and then gradually decreased. In consideration of these data, patch-clamp recordings were performed on medium to large size neurons of the dissociated trigeminal ganglion (TRG). Patch-clamp recordings revealed that the IK (sustained) and IA (transient) in rats with ION-CCI were significantly smaller than those of naïve rats, and correlated with an increase in duration of repolarization phase and a decrease in duration of depolarization phase, respectively. The hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) was significantly larger in TRG neurons of rats with ION-CCI as compared with those of naïve rats. The present results suggest that Ih, IK and IA in Adelta-afferent neurons in TRG are significantly involved in the changes in afferent spontaneous activity and mechanically evoked activity that accompany mechanical allodynia produced by trigeminal nerve injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Kitagawa
- Department of Physiology, School of Dentistry, Nihon University, 1-8-13 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 101-8310, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wang WD, Kong KM, Xiao YY, Wang XJ, Liang B, Qi WL, Wu RH. Functional MR imaging of the cervical spinal cord by use of electrical stimulation at LI4 (Hegu). CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS : ... ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006; 2006:1029-31. [PMID: 17946437 DOI: 10.1109/iembs.2006.260591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose is to investigate the cervical spinal cord mapping on electrical stimulation at LI4 (Hegu) by using 'signal enhancement by extravascular water protons' (SEEP)-fMRI, and to establish the response of acupoint-stimulation in spinal cord. Three healthy volunteers were underwent low-frequency electrical stimulation at LI4. Meanwhile, a single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) sequence was used to perform functional MR imaging on a 1.5 T GE Signa MR system. Cord activation was measured both in the sagittal and transverse imaging planes and then analyzed by AFNI (analysis of functional neuroimages) system. In the sagittal view, two subjects had an fMRI response in the cervical spinal cord upon electrical stimulation at LI4. The localizations of the segmental fMRI activation are both at C6 through T1 and C2/3 cervical spinal cord level. In the transverse imaging plane, significant fMRI responses could be measured in the last subjects locating at C6/7 segment, the cross-sectional localization of the activity measured in the spinal cord was most in terms of the ipsilateral posterior direction. It is concluded that the fMRI technique can be used for detecting with activity in the human cervical spinal cord by a single-shot fast spin-echo sequence on a 1.5 T GE clinical system. Investigating the acupoint-stimulation response in the spinal cord using the spinal fMRI will be helpful for the further discussion on the mechanisms of acupuncture to spinal cord diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W D Wang
- Department of Spine & Joint, 2nd Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Dong ZQ, Ma F, Xie H, Wang YQ, Wu GC. Down-regulation of GFRalpha-1 expression by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide attenuates electroacupuncture analgesia on heat hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Brain Res Bull 2005; 69:30-6. [PMID: 16464682 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2005.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2005] [Revised: 06/15/2005] [Accepted: 08/20/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been proved to play an important role in the modulation of nociceptive transmission especially during neuropathic pain. It was reported that electroacupuncture (EA) had potent analgesic effect on neuropathic pain and our previous studies indicated that EA could activate endogenous GDNF signaling system (GDNF and its receptor GFRalpha-1) in dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) of neuropathic pain rats. In order to investigate whether GDNF signaling system was involved in EA analgesia on neuropathic pain, which was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in rats, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) specifically against GFRalpha-1 was used in the present study to result in down-regulation of GFRalpha-1 expression. The results showed that: (1) cumulative EA had potent analgesic effect on neuropathic pain in rats; (2) the expression of GFRalpha-1 in DRGs was down-regulated by intrathecal delivery of antisense ODN, but not by normal saline (NS) or mismatch ODN; (3) EA analgesia was significantly attenuated by antisense ODN treatment. The present study demonstrated that endogenous GDNF signaling system was involved in EA analgesia on neuropathic pain in rats, which would deepen our realization of the mechanism of EA analgesia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Dong ZQ, Wang YQ, Ma F, Xie H, Wu GC. Down-regulation of GFRalpha-1 expression by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide aggravates thermal hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Neuropharmacology 2005; 50:393-403. [PMID: 16289634 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2005] [Revised: 08/18/2005] [Accepted: 09/26/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been hypothesized to play an important role in the modulation of nociceptive signals especially during neuropathic pain. The present study examined the expression of GDNF and GFRalpha-1 (the high-affinity receptor of GDNF) in dorsal root ganglions (DRG) in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve. In order to address the role of GDNF and GFRalpha-1 in neuropathic pain, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) specifically against GFRalpha-1 was intrathecally administered to result in down-regulation of GFRalpha-1 expression. The results showed that both the protein and mRNA levels of GDNF and GFRalpha-1 were significantly increased after CCI, while the thermal hyperalgesia of neuropathic pain rats could be significantly aggravated by antisense ODN treatment, but not by normal saline (NS) or mismatch ODN treatment. The present study demonstrated that endogenous GDNF and GFRalpha-1 might play an anti-hyperalgesic role in neuropathic pain of rats. In addition, we found a down-regulation of somatostatin (SOM) in DRG and spinal dorsal horn after expression of GFRalpha-1 was knocked down, which suggested the possible relationship between the anti-hyperalgesic effect of GDNF and GFRalpha-1 on neuropathic pain and endogenous SOM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Dong ZQ, Xie H, Ma F, Li WM, Wang YQ, Wu GC. Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of somatostatin and preprosomatostatin mRNA in dorsal root ganglions and spinal dorsal horn in neuropathic pain rats. Neurosci Lett 2005; 385:189-94. [PMID: 15970377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.05.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2005] [Revised: 05/12/2005] [Accepted: 05/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Somatostatin (SOM) is an endogenous non-opioid neuropeptide that has analgesic effect in rodents and human beings. Previous studies indicated that SOM might be involved in the modulating effects of electroacupuncture (EA). Using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, the present study observed the effects of EA on the expression of SOM peptide and preprosomatostatin (ppSOM) mRNA in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve. No significant change was detected in the expression of SOM and ppSOM mRNA following CCI. However, EA could significantly enhance SOM expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn as well as ppSOM mRNA level in DRG of neuropathic pain rats. The present data demonstrated that EA could activate endogenous SOM of neuropathic pain rats and this might be one of the mechanisms that underlie the effectiveness of EA in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, P.O. Box 291, 138, Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|