Phospholipase C{beta}3 in mouse and human dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord is a possible target for treatment of neuropathic pain.

Treatment of neuropathic pain is a major clinical problem. This study shows expression of phospholipase ss3 (PLCss3) in mouse and human DRG neurons, mainly in small ones and mostly with a nonpeptidergic phenotype. After spared nerve injury, the pain threshold was strongly reduced, and systemic treatment of such animals with the unselective PLC inhibitor U73122 caused a rapid and long-lasting (48-h) increase in pain threshold. Thus, inhibition of PLC may provide a way to treat neuropathic pain.