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Techameena P, Feng X, Zhang K, Hadjab S. The single-cell transcriptomic atlas iPain identifies senescence of nociceptors as a therapeutical target for chronic pain treatment. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8585. [PMID: 39362841 PMCID: PMC11450014 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain remains a significant medical challenge with complex underlying mechanisms, and an urgent need for new treatments. Our research built and utilized the iPain single-cell atlas to study chronic pain progression in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia. We discovered that senescence of a small subset of pain-sensing neurons may be a driver of chronic pain. This mechanism was observed in animal models after nerve injury and in human patients diagnosed with chronic pain or diabetic painful neuropathy. Notably, treatment with senolytics, drugs that remove senescent cells, reversed pain symptoms in mice post-injury. These findings highlight the role of cellular senescence in chronic pain development, demonstrate the therapeutic potential of senolytic treatments, and underscore the value of the iPain atlas for future pain research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prach Techameena
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain & Therapeutics, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaona Feng
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain & Therapeutics, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kaiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain & Therapeutics, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Saida Hadjab
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain & Therapeutics, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Le D, Zhang C, Liu L, Zhao M, Liang Y, Liao P, Yang F. Neuropathic pain development following nerve injury is mediated by SOX11-ARID1A-SOCS3 transcriptional regulation in the spinal cord. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:281. [PMID: 38324208 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09183-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain, a complex condition originating from nervous system damage, remains a significant clinical challenge due to limited understanding of its underlying mechanisms. Recent research highlights the SOX11 transcription factor, known for its role in nervous system development, as a crucial player in neuropathic pain development and maintenance. This study investigates the role of the SOX11-ARID1A-SOCS3 pathway in neuropathic pain modulation within the spinal cord. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model in mice, we observed a significant upregulation of Sox11 in the spinal cord dorsal horn post-injury. Intrathecal administration of Sox11 shRNA mitigated SNL-induced neuropathic pain behaviors, including mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia. Further, we demonstrated that Sox11 regulates neuropathic pain via transcriptional control of ARID1A, with subsequent modulation of SOCS3 expression. Knockdown of ARID1A and SOCS3 via shRNA resulted in alleviation of Sox11-induced pain sensitization. Additionally, Sox11 overexpression led to an increase in ARID1A binding to the SOCS3 promoter, enhancing chromatin accessibility and indicating a direct regulatory relationship. These findings were further supported by in vitro luciferase reporter assays and chromatin accessibility analysis. CONCLUSIONS The SOX11-ARID1A-SOCS3 pathway plays a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Sox11 acts as a master regulator, modulating ARID1A, which in turn influences SOCS3 expression, thereby contributing to the modulation of neuropathic pain. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain and highlight potential therapeutic targets for its treatment. The differential regulation of this pathway in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) underscores its complexity and the need for targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Le
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mailin Zhao
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingping Liang
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Pingsheng Liao
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1, Minde Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China.
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Yang X, Huang X, Lu W, Yan F, Ye Y, Wang L, Tang X, Zeng W, Huang J, Xie J. Transcriptome Profiling of miRNA-mRNA Interactions and Associated Mechanisms in Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5672-5690. [PMID: 37332017 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03398-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) is a dose-limiting adverse event affecting 40% of chemotherapy patients. MiRNA-mRNA interaction plays an important role in various processes. However, detailed profiling of miRNA-mRNA interactions in CINP remains unclear. Here, a rat-based CINP model was established using paclitaxel, followed by nociceptive behavioral tests related to mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia. The landscape of miRNA-mRNA interaction in the spinal dorsal horn was investigated through mRNA transcriptomics and small RNA sequencing. Under CINP condition, 86 differentially expressed mRNAs and 56 miRNAs were identified. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses indicated the activity of Odorant binding, postsynaptic specialization and synaptic density, extracellular matrix, mitochondrial matrix, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and GTPase activity. Protein-protein interaction (PPI), networks of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA, and TF-genes were demonstrated. We next explored the immune infiltration microenvironment and found a higher infiltration abundance of Th17 and a lower abundance of MDSC in CINP. RT-qPCR and dual-luciferase assays were used to verify the sequencing results, and single-cell analysis based on the SekSeeq database was conducted. Combined with bioinformatics analyses and experimental validations, Mpz, a protein-coding gene specifically expressed in Schwann cells, was found critical in maintaining CINP under miRNA regulation. Therefore, these data highlight the expression patterns of miRNA-mRNA, and the underlying mechanism in the spinal dorsal horn under CINP condition, and Mpz may serve as a promising therapeutic target for patients with CINP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiqiang Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528400, Guangdong, China
| | - Weicheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaqi Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Linjie Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaole Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Weian Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingxiu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jingdun Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China.
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Aroke EN, Hobson JM, Ptacek T, Jackson P, Goodin BR. Genome-wide DNA methylation study identifies significant epigenomic changes associated with internalized stigma in adults with non-specific chronic low back pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 3:1021963. [PMID: 36518098 PMCID: PMC9742283 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1021963] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-specific chronic low back pain (cLBP) represents a common musculoskeletal condition with no identifiable cause. It cannot be diagnosed with conventional neuroimaging techniques such as computerized tomography (CT). The diagnostic uncertainty that characterizes non-specific cLBP can lead to stigmatizing responses from others that can become internalized Among individuals with non-specific cLBP, internalized stigma is associated with greater pain intensity and disability. Yet, no study has examined the biological mechanism linking high internalized stigma to worse outcomes in individuals with non-specific cLBP. We aimed to identify differentially methylated loci (DML), enrichment pathways, and associated network interactions among individuals with non-specific cLBP experiencing low vs. high internalized stigma. We examined DNA methylation in whole blood samples from 48 adults, ages 19-85, using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). After controlling for age, sex, race, and multiple testing, differentially methylated loci (DML) differed in adults with low vs. high internalized stigma by at least 10% and q < 0.01 in 3,665 CpG sites: 2,280 hypomethylated and 1,385 hypermethylated. Gene ontology (GO) analyses of the annotated genes from these sites revealed significant enrichment of 274 biological processes, 29 cellular components, and 24 molecular functions (adjusted p < 0.05). The top enriched molecular functions regulate protein binding and DNA binding of transcription factor activity. Pathway analyses indicated that many functional genomic pathways, including Hippo Signaling, Melanogenesis, and Pathways in Cancer, were enriched with differentially methylated genes. Also, there was a significant interaction between relevance pathways such as P53, mTOR, PI3K-Akt, and Wnt signaling pathways. These pathways have previously been associated with neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and stress-related conditions. Thus, findings point to possible stress-induced DNAm changes as the link between high levels of internalized stigma and worse outcomes in adults with non-specific cLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin N. Aroke
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Joanna M. Hobson
- Biobehavioral Pain Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Travis Ptacek
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Pamela Jackson
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Burel R. Goodin
- Biobehavioral Pain Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention (CAPPI), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Zheng YL, Su X, Chen YM, Guo JB, Song G, Yang Z, Chen PJ, Wang XQ. microRNA-Based Network and Pathway Analysis for Neuropathic Pain in Rodent Models. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:780730. [PMID: 35096965 PMCID: PMC8794747 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.780730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is poorly managed, and in-depth mechanisms of gene transcriptome alterations in NP pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. To determine microRNA-related molecular mechanisms of NP and their transcriptional regulation in NP, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL Complete (EBSCO) were searched from inception to April 2021. Commonly dysregulated miRNAs in NP were assessed. The putative targets of these miRNAs were determined using TargetScan, Funrich, Cytoscape and String database. A total of 133 literatures containing miRNA profiles studies and experimentally verify studies were included. Venn analysis, target gene prediction analysis and functional enrichment analysis indicated several miRNAs (miR-200b-3p, miR-96, miR-182, miR-183, miR-30b, miR-155 and miR-145) and their target genes involved in known relevant pathways for NP. Targets on transient receptor potential channels, voltage-gated sodium channels and voltage-gated calcium channels may be harnessed for pain relief. A further delineation of signal processing and modulation in neuronal ensembles is key to achieving therapeutic success in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Li Zheng
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuan Su
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Meng Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Bao Guo
- The Second School of Clinical Medical, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ge Song
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei-Jie Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Pei-Jie Chen, ; Xue-Qiang Wang,
| | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Pei-Jie Chen, ; Xue-Qiang Wang,
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Zhang C, Hu MW, Wang XW, Cui X, Liu J, Huang Q, Cao X, Zhou FQ, Qian J, He SQ, Guan Y. scRNA-sequencing reveals subtype-specific transcriptomic perturbations in DRG neurons of PirtEGFPf mice in neuropathic pain condition. eLife 2022; 11:76063. [PMID: 36264609 PMCID: PMC9584610 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Functionally distinct subtypes/clusters of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons may play different roles in nerve regeneration and pain. However, details about their transcriptomic changes under neuropathic pain conditions remain unclear. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve represents a well-established model of neuropathic pain, and we conducted single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize subtype-specific perturbations of transcriptomes in lumbar DRG neurons on day 7 post-CCI. By using PirtEGFPf mice that selectively express an enhanced green fluorescent protein in DRG neurons, we established a highly efficient purification process to enrich neurons for scRNA-seq. We observed the emergence of four prominent CCI-induced clusters and a loss of marker genes in injured neurons. Importantly, a portion of injured neurons from several clusters were spared from injury-induced identity loss, suggesting subtype-specific transcriptomic changes in injured neurons. Moreover, uninjured neurons, which are necessary for mediating the evoked pain, also demonstrated cell-type-specific transcriptomic perturbations in these clusters, but not in others. Notably, male and female mice showed differential transcriptomic changes in multiple neuronal clusters after CCI, suggesting transcriptomic sexual dimorphism in DRG neurons after nerve injury. Using Fgf3 as a proof-of-principle, RNAscope study provided further evidence of increased Fgf3 in injured neurons after CCI, supporting scRNA-seq analysis, and calcium imaging study unraveled a functional role of Fgf3 in neuronal excitability. These findings may contribute to the identification of new target genes and the development of DRG neuron cell-type-specific therapies for optimizing neuropathic pain treatment and nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Ming-Wen Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xiang Cui
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Xu Cao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States,The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Shao-Qiu He
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States,Department of Neurological Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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7
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Li Z, Li X, Jian W, Xue Q, Liu Z. Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Development of Chronic Pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:760964. [PMID: 34887726 PMCID: PMC8649923 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.760964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain, a severe public health issue, affects the quality of life of patients and results in a major socioeconomic burden. Only limited drug treatments for chronic pain are available, and they have insufficient efficacy. Recent studies have found that the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is dysregulated in various chronic pain models, including chronic neuropathic pain, chronic inflammatory pain, and chronic cancer-related pain. Studies have also explored the effect of these dysregulated lncRNAs on the activation of microRNAs, inflammatory cytokines, and so on. These mechanisms have been widely demonstrated to play a critical role in the development of chronic pain. The findings of these studies indicate the significant roles of dysregulated lncRNAs in chronic pain in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord, following peripheral or central nerve lesions. This review summarizes the mechanism underlying the abnormal expression of lncRNAs in the development of chronic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury, diabetic neuropathy, inflammatory response, trigeminal neuralgia, spinal cord injury, cancer metastasis, and other conditions. Understanding the effect of lncRNAs may provide a novel insight that targeting lncRNAs could be a potential candidate for therapeutic intervention in chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Geriatric & Spinal Pain Multi-Department Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiongjuan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Geriatric & Spinal Pain Multi-Department Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenling Jian
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Geriatric & Spinal Pain Multi-Department Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qingsheng Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiheng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Geriatric & Spinal Pain Multi-Department Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Peng Y, Zhang Q, Cheng H, Yan G, Xing C. Upregulation of ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2B (Ube2b) ameliorates neuropathic pain by regulating Kcna2 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2) in primary afferent neurons. Bioengineered 2021; 12:7470-7480. [PMID: 34632937 PMCID: PMC8806678 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1976895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a kind of pain caused by damage to somatosensory nervous system. Currently, neuropathic pain is still a medical problem for clinicians. Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2B (Ube2b) is validated to be implicated with nerve function, but whether Ube2b can play a role in neuropathic pain is still elusive. In this work, we constructed chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model by ligating the left sciatic nerve, Ube2b protein expression was confirmed to be decreased in spinal cord tissues of CCI rats via Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Moreover, Ube2b elevation alleviated the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical hyperalgesia in CCI rats according to paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) and paw withdrawal mechanic threshold (PWMT). In addition, Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that Ube2b elevation suppressed chronic sciatic nerve injury. All these data suggested that Ube2b could ameliorate neuropathic pain in CCI rats. Mechanically, Ube2b upregulation elevated the protein level of Kcna2 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2) and decreased the protein level of DNMT3a (DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha). Ube2b elevation could increase Kcna2 expression via suppressing DNMT3a. Rescue assays unveiled that Ube2b overexpression modulated-mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia were reversed by Kcna2 depletion, indicating that Ube2b alleviated neuropathic pain via mediating Kcna2 via the regulation of DNMT3a. In summary, we found that Ube2b elevation ameliorated neuropathic pain through regulating Kcna2, which might offer a novel biomarker for the therapies of neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology and SICU, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai,China
| | - Qingqing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and SICU, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai,China
| | - Hao Cheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, the Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guizhen Yan
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Lixia District of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunli Xing
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Lixia District of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China
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