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Liu Y, Huang C, Xiong Y, Wang X, Shen Z, Zhang M, Gao N, Wang N, Du G, Zhan H. The causal relationship between human brain morphometry and knee osteoarthritis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Front Genet 2024; 15:1420134. [PMID: 39040992 PMCID: PMC11260717 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1420134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent and debilitating condition affecting millions worldwide, yet its underlying etiology remains poorly understood. Recent advances in neuroimaging and genetic methodologies offer new avenues to explore the potential neuropsychological contributions to KOA. This study aims to investigate the causal relationships between brain-wide morphometric variations and KOA using a genetic epidemiology approach. Method Leveraging data from 36,778 UK Biobank participants for human brain morphometry and 487,411 UK Biobank participants for KOA, this research employed a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) approach to explore the causal effects of 83 brain-wide volumes on KOA. The primary method of analysis was the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) and Wald Ratio (WR) method, complemented by MR Egger and IVW methods for heterogeneity and pleiotropy assessments. A significance threshold of p < 0.05 was set to determine causality. The analysis results were assessed for heterogeneity using the MR Egger and IVW methods. Brain-wide volumes with Q_pval < 0.05 were considered indicative of heterogeneity. The MR Egger method was employed to evaluate the pleiotropy of the analysis results, with brain-wide volumes having a p-value < 0.05 considered suggestive of pleiotropy. Results Our findings revealed significant causal associations between KOA and eight brain-wide volumes: Left parahippocampal volume, Right posterior cingulate volume, Left transverse temporal volume, Left caudal anterior cingulate volume, Right paracentral volume, Left paracentral volume, Right lateral orbitofrontal volume, and Left superior temporal volume. These associations remained robust after tests for heterogeneity and pleiotropy, underscoring their potential role in the pathogenesis of KOA. Conclusion This study provides novel evidence of the causal relationships between specific brain morphometries and KOA, suggesting that neuroanatomical variations might contribute to the risk and development of KOA. These findings pave the way for further research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying KOA and may eventually lead to the development of new intervention strategies targeting these neuropsychological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Liu
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Huang
- Yunyang County People’s Hospital Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Chongqing, China
| | - Yizhe Xiong
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhibi Shen
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingcai Zhang
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningyang Gao
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Yangzhi Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqing Du
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongsheng Zhan
- Shi’s Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Kim K, Nan G, Kim L, Kwon M, Lee KH, Cha M, Lee BH. Insular cortex stimulation alleviates neuropathic pain via ERK phosphorylation in neurons. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:1636-1648. [PMID: 36806498 PMCID: PMC10173725 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The clinical use of brain stimulation is attractive for patients who have side effects or tolerance. However, studies on insular cortex (IC) stimulation are lacking in neuropathic pain. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of IC stimulation (ICS) on neuropathic pain and to determine how ICS modulates pain. METHODS Changes in pain behaviors were observed following ICS with various parameters in neuropathic rats. Western blotting was performed to assess molecular changes in the expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK), neurons, astrocytes, and microglia between experimental groups. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the colocalization of pERK with different cell types. RESULTS The most effective pain-relieving effect was induced at 50 Hz-120 μA in single trial of ICS and it maintained 4 days longer after the termination of repetitive ICS. The expression levels of pERK, astrocytes, and microglia were increased in neuropathic rats. However, after ICS, the expression levels of pERK were decreased, and colocalization of pERK and neurons was reduced in layers 2-3 of the IC. CONCLUSION These results indicated that ICS attenuated neuropathic pain by the regulation of pERK in neurons located in layers 2-3 of the IC. This preclinical study may enhance the potential use of ICS and identify the therapeutic mechanisms of ICS in neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Guanghai Nan
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Leejeong Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minjee Kwon
- Department of Nursing, Kyungil University, Gyeongsan, Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Lee
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Division of Health Science, Dongseo University, Busan, Korea
| | - Myeounghoon Cha
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bae Hwan Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Cha M, Eum YJ, Kim K, Kim L, Bak H, Sohn JH, Cheong C, Lee BH. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals sex differences in pain sensitivity of rats. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1073963. [PMID: 36937048 PMCID: PMC10017469 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1073963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on differences in brain structure and function according to sex are reported to contribute to differences in behavior and cognition. However, few studies have investigated brain structures or used tractography to investigate gender differences in pain sensitivity. The identification of tracts involved in sex-based structural differences that show pain sensitivity has remained elusive to date. Here, we attempted to demonstrate the sex differences in pain sensitivity and to clarify its relationship with brain structural connectivity. In this study, pain behavior test and brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed in male and female rats and tractography was performed on the whole brain using fiber tracking software. We selected eight brain regions related to pain and performed a tractography analysis of these regions. Fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements using automated tractography revealed sex differences in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)-, prefrontal cortex (PFC)-, and ventral posterior thalamus-related brain connections. In addition, the results of the correlation analysis of pain sensitivity and DTI tractography showed differences in mean, axial, and radial diffusivities, as well as FA. This study revealed the potential of DTI for exploring circuits involved in pain sensitivity. The behavioral and functional relevance's of measures derived from DTI tractography is demonstrated by their relationship with pain sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeounghoon Cha
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ji Eum
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Leejeong Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeji Bak
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hun Sohn
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaejoon Cheong
- Bio-Chemical Analysis Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Chaejoon Cheong,
| | - Bae Hwan Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Bae Hwan Lee,
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Choi S, Kim K, Kwon M, Bai SJ, Cha M, Lee BH. Modulation of Neuropathic Pain by Glial Regulation in the Insular Cortex of Rats. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:815945. [PMID: 35493331 PMCID: PMC9043281 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.815945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The insular cortex (IC) is known to process pain information. However, analgesic effects of glial inhibition in the IC have not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate pain alleviation effects after neuroglia inhibition in the IC during the early or late phase of pain development. The effects of glial inhibitors in early or late phase inhibition in neuropathic pain were characterized in astrocytes and microglia expressions in the IC of an animal model of neuropathic pain. Changes in withdrawal responses during different stages of inhibition were compared, and morphological changes in glial cells with purinergic receptor expressions were analyzed. Inhibition of glial cells had an analgesic effect that persisted even after drug withdrawal. Both GFAP and CD11b/c expressions were decreased after injection of glial inhibitors. Morphological alterations of astrocytes and microglia were observed with expression changes of purinergic receptors. These findings indicate that inhibition of neuroglia activity in the IC alleviates chronic pain, and that purinergic receptors in glial cells are closely related to chronic pain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyeon Choi
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Minjee Kwon
- Department of Nursing, Kyungil University, Gyeongsan, South Korea
| | - Sun Joon Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Myeounghoon Cha
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Myeounghoon Cha,
| | - Bae Hwan Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Bae Hwan Lee,
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