RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is still a challenge for clinical treatment as a result of the comprehensive pathogenesis. Although emerging evidence demonstrates the pivotal role of glial cells in regulating neuropathic pain, the role of Schwann cells and their underlying mechanisms still need to be uncovered. Pannexin 1 (Panx 1), an important membrane channel for the release of ATP and inflammatory cytokines, as well as its activation in central glial cells, contributes to pain development. Here, we hypothesized that Schwann cell Panx 1 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and contributes to neuropathic pain. METHODS: A mouse model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) in CD1 adult mice or P0-Cre transgenic mice, and in vitro cultured Schwann cells were used. Intrasciatic injection with Panx 1 blockers or the desired virus was used to knock down the expression of Panx 1. Mechanical and thermal sensitivity was assessed using Von Frey and a hot plate assay. The expression of Panx 1 was measured using qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. The production of cytokines was monitored through qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Panx1 channel activity was detected by ethidium bromide (EB) uptake. RESULTS: CCI induced persistent neuroinflammatory responses and upregulation of Panx 1 in Schwann cells. Intrasciatic injection of Panx 1 blockers, carbenoxolone (CBX), probenecid, and Panx 1 mimetic peptide (10Panx) effectively reduced mechanical and heat hyperalgesia. Probenecid treatment of CCI-induced mice significantly reduced Panx 1 expression in Schwann cells, but not in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). In addition, Panx 1 knockdown in Schwann cells with Panx 1 shRNA-AAV in P0-Cre mice significantly reduced CCI-induced neuropathic pain. To determine whether Schwann cell Panx 1 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and contributes to neuropathic pain, we evaluated its effect in LPS-treated Schwann cells. We found that inhibition of Panx 1 via CBX and Panx 1-siRNA effectively attenuated the production of selective cytokines, as well as its mechanism of action being dependent on both Panx 1 channel activity and its expression. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that CCI-related neuroinflammation correlates with Panx 1 activation in Schwann cells, indicating that inhibition of Panx 1 channels in Schwann cells reduces neuropathic pain through the suppression of neuroinflammatory responses.
Asunto(s)
Carbenoxolona , Neuralgia , Adenosina Trifosfato/farmacología , Animales , Carbenoxolona/farmacología , Carbenoxolona/uso terapéutico , Conexinas/genética , Conexinas/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Etidio/metabolismo , Etidio/farmacología , Etidio/uso terapéutico , Hiperalgesia/metabolismo , Lipopolisacáridos/farmacología , Ratones , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/metabolismo , Neuralgia/metabolismo , Probenecid/metabolismo , Probenecid/farmacología , Probenecid/uso terapéutico , ARN Interferente Pequeño/metabolismo , Células de SchwannRESUMEN
Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological issue that leads to sensory and motor disorders. Over time, the treatment for peripheral neuropathy has primarily focused on medications for specific symptoms and surgical techniques. Despite the different advantages of these treatments, functional recovery remains less than ideal. Schwann cells, as the primary glial cells in the peripheral nervous system, play crucial roles in physiological and pathological conditions by maintaining nerve structure and functions and secreting various signaling molecules and neurotrophic factors to support both axonal growth and myelination. In addition, stem cells, including mesenchymal stromal cells, skin precursor cells and neural stem cells, have the potential to differentiate into Schwann-like cells to perform similar functions as Schwann cells. Therefore, accumulating evidence indicates that Schwann cell transplantation plays a crucial role in the resolution of peripheral neuropathy. In this review, we summarize the literature regarding the use of Schwann cell/Schwann cell-like cell transplantation for different peripheral neuropathies and the potential role of promoting nerve repair and functional recovery. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges of Schwann cell/Schwann cell-like cell transplantation in future clinical applications. Together, these studies provide insights into the effect of Schwann cells/Schwann cell-like cells on cell therapy and uncover prospective therapeutic strategies for peripheral neuropathy.
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Reactive astrogliosis is a key hallmark of inflammatory responses in the pathogenesis of brain injury, including Parkinson's disease (PD), but its role and regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. Pannexin 1 (Panx 1) is a membrane channel that mediates substance release in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the role of astrocyte Panx 1 in the regulation of PD-like neuroinflammation remains elusive. Here, we characterized the expression of Panx 1 in isolated primary astrocytes and a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model. The functions of Panx 1 in inflammatory cytokines expression and the viability of neuronal SH-SY5Y cells were examined in cultured cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). We found that Panx 1 expression was significantly increased under both LPS- and MPP+-treated conditions. Panx 1 downregulation suppressed LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression but did not significantly affect MPP+-induced astrocyte apoptosis or inflammatory cytokine expression through treatment with the Panx 1 inhibitor carbenoxolone (CBX) and Panx 1 siRNA. Moreover, silencing Panx 1 in reactive astrocytes had a potentially protective effect on the viability of neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Therefore, we propose that Panx 1 may serve as a key regulator in reactive astrocytes to intervene in the inflammatory response and maintain neuronal viability in the context of PD-like conditions.
RESUMEN
Pannexin 1 (Panx 1), as a large-pore membrane channel, is highly permeable to ATP and other signaling molecules. Previous studies have demonstrated the expression of Panx 1 in the nervous system, including astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. However, the distribution and function of Panx 1 in the peripheral nervous system are not clear. Blocking the function of Panx 1 pharmacologically (carbenoxolone and probenecid) or with small interfering RNA targeting pannexins can greatly reduce hypotonicity-induced ATP release. Treatment of Schwann cells with a Ras homolog family member (Rho) GTPase inhibitor and small interfering RNA targeting Rho or cytoskeleton disrupting agents, such as nocodazole or cytochalasin D, revealed that hypotonicity-induced ATP release depended on intracellular RhoA and the cytoskeleton. These findings suggest that Panx 1 participates in ATP release in Schwann cells by regulating RhoA and the cytoskeleton arrangement. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nantong University, China (No. S20180806-002) on August 5, 2018.
RESUMEN
Myelination of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system is an intricate process involving myelin protein trafficking. Recently, the role and mechanism of the endosomal/lysosomal system in myelin formation were emphasized. Our previous results demonstrated that a small GTPase Rab27a regulates lysosomal exocytosis and myelin protein trafficking in Schwann cells. In this present study, we established a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron and Schwann cell co-culture model to identify the signals associated with Rab27a during myelination. First, Slp2-a, as the Rab27a effector, was endogenously expressed in Schwann cells. Second, Rab27a expression significantly increased during Schwann cell myelination. Finally, Rab27a and Slp2-a silencing in Schwann cells not only reduced myelin protein expression, but also impaired formation of myelin-like membranes in DRG neuron and Schwann cell co-cultures. Our findings suggest that the Rab27a/Slp2-a complex affects Schwann cell myelination in vitro.