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Huang S, Chen Y, Jia Y, Yang T, Su W, Zhu Z, Xue P, Feng F, Zhao Y, Chen G. Delayed inhibition of ERK and p38 attenuates neuropathic pain without affecting motor function recovery after peripheral nerve injury. Neuropharmacology 2022; 202:108835. [PMID: 34648772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) often result in persistent neuropathic pain, seriously affecting quality of life. Existing therapeutic interventions for PNI-induced neuropathic pain are far from satisfactory. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38 have been found to participate in triggering and maintaining PNI-induced neuropathic pain. However, ERK and p38 also contribute to axonal regeneration and motor function recovery after PNI, making it difficult to inhibit ERK and p38 for therapeutic purposes. In this study, we simultaneously characterized neuropathic pain and motor function recovery in a mouse sciatic nerve crush injury model to identify the time window for therapeutic interventions. We further demonstrated that delayed delivery of a combination of ERK and p38 inhibitors at three weeks after PNI could significantly alleviate PNI-induced neuropathic pain without affecting motor function recovery. Additionally, the combined use of these two inhibitors could suppress pain markedly better than either inhibitor alone, possibly reducing the required dose of each inhibitor and alleviating the side effects and risks of the inhibitors when used individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- SaiSai Huang
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - YingTing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Yue Jia
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Tuo Yang
- Department of Hand Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130033, China
| | - WenFeng Su
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - ZhenYu Zhu
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Peng Xue
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - FeiFan Feng
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - YaYu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China; Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and the Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China.
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Effect of Interleukin-1β on Gene Expression Signatures in Schwann Cells Associated with Neuropathic Pain. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:2958-2968. [PMID: 34264480 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03400-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays a critical role in the development of neuropathic pain through activation of Schwann cells (SCs) after nerve injury. Here, we applied an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach to identify the effect of IL-1β on gene signatures of a rat SC line (RSC96) and the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the development of neuropathic pain. RNA-seq data demonstrated a total of 57 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 35 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated between SCs treated with IL-1β, and control SCs without treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showed that key upregulated DEGs included those associated with immune and inflammation-related processes, neurotrophin production and SC proliferation. Five proteins encoded by key upregulated DEGs (Ceacam1, Hap1, Irs3, Lgi4 and Mif) were further verified by Western blot. Consistent with the RNA-Seq results, the expression of key genes was confirmed in SCs by immunofluorescence of the chronic constriction injury (CCI) sciatic nerve in rats. Furthermore, we demonstrated that treatment with IL-1β resulted in an increase in p38/ERK phosphorylation, and activators of p38/ERK enhanced the effect of IL-1β on the expression some of the key genes, whereas p38/ERK inhibitors reversed these effects. In conclusion, the present study highlights key genes involved in the development of neuropathic pain through activation of SCs after nerve injury. Identification of these genes and subsequent evidence of their mediation by IL-1β treatment promote our understanding of molecular mechanisms of nerve injury induced neuropathic pain, and highlight potential molecular targets for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Mai L, Zhu X, Huang F, He H, Fan W. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and pain. Life Sci 2020; 256:117885. [PMID: 32485175 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory and neuropathic pain is initiated by tissue inflammation and nerve injury, respectively. Both are characterized by increased activity in the peripheral and central nervous system, where multiple inflammatory cytokines and other active molecules activate different signaling pathways that involve in the development and/or maintenance of pain. P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is one member of the MAPK family, which is activated in neurons and glia and contributes importantly to inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest advances made about the implication of p38 MAPK signaling cascade in pain. It can deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pain and may help to offer new targets for pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijia Mai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Zhu
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hongwen He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wenguo Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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