RIP3 Inhibition ameliorates chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain by suppressing JNK signaling.

Neuroinflammation is a major contributor to neuropathic pain. Receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIP3) senses cellular stress, promotes inflammatory responses and activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. Here, we assessed the involvement of RIP3-induced JNK signaling in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain. We found that RIP3 inhibitors (GSK'872) and JNK inhibitors (SP600125) not only alleviated the radiant heat response and mechanical allodynia in CCI rats, but also reduced inflammatory factor levels in the lumbar spinal cord. CCI surgery induced RIP3 mRNA and protein expression in the spinal cord. GSK'872 treatment after CCI surgery reduced RIP3 and phosphorylated (p)-JNK expression in the spinal cord, whereas SP600125 treatment after CCI surgery had almost no effect on RIP3. Sinomenine treatment reduced RIP3, p-JNK and c-Fos levels in the spinal cords of CCI rats. These data demonstrated that RIP3 inhibition (particularly via sinomenine treatment) alleviates neuropathic pain by suppressing JNK signaling. RIP3 could thus be a new treatment target in patients with neuropathic pain.

Obesity increases neuropathic pain via the AMPK-ERK-NOX4 pathway in rats.

This study focused on the relationship between extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and obesity-induced increases in neuropathic pain. We fed rats a high-fat diet to establish the obesity model, and rats were given surgery to establish the chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (CCD) model. U0126 was applied to inhibit ERK, and metformin or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) was applied to cause AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) were calculated to indicate the level of neuropathic pain. The data indicated that compared with normal CCD rats, the PWMT of obese CCD rats were decreased, accompanied with an increase of ERK phosphorylation, NAD(P)H oxidase 4 (NOX4) protein expression, oxidative stress and inflammatory level in the L4 to L5 spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Administration of U0126 could partially elevate the PWMT and reduce the protein expression of NOX4 and the above pathological changes in obese CCD rats. In vitro, ERK phosphorylation, NOX4 protein expression increased significantly in DRG neurons under the stimulation of palmitic acid (PA), accompanied with increased secretion of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and apoptosis level, while U0126 partially attenuated the PA-induced upregulation of NOX4 and other pathological changes. In the rescue experiment, overexpression of NOX4 abolished the above protective effect of U0126 on DRG neurons in high-fat environment. Next, we explore upstream mechanisms. Metformin gavage significantly reduced neuropathic pain in obese CCD rats. For the mechanisms, activating AMPK with metformin (obese CCD rats) or AICAR (DRG neurons in a high-fat environment) not only inhibited the ERK-NOX4 pathway, but also improved oxidative stress and inflammation caused by high-fat. In conclusion, the AMPK-ERK-NOX4 pathway may has a pivotal role in mediating obesity-induced increases in neuropathic pain.

Effect of cGMP-activated aquaporin 1 on TRPV4 in rats with allodynia induced by chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) knockdown on allodynia in rats with chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the role of TRPV4 in these effects. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (CCD) via surgery. Behavioral tests were performed to calculate the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT). Gene silence was induced by injecting rats with lentivirus expressing AQP1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA, Lv-shAQP1). Western blot analyses were performed to examine AQP1 and TRPV4 protein expression. The concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: AQP1 protein levels in DRG neurons were significantly increased in CCD rats and were accompanied by a decrease in the PWMT. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference of AQP1 decreased AQP1 protein expression in CCD rats and normalized their PWMT, but not in rats infected with lentivirus-expressing negative control short hairpin RNA. Furthermore, AQP1 was identified as a cGMP-gated channel. cGMP concentration was upregulated in CCD rats. This effect was attenuated by treatment with a cGMP inhibitor. Additionally, the cGMP inhibitor decreased the mechanical allodynia and AQP1 protein expression in CCD rats. Finally, levels of TRPV4 expression were upregulated in DRG neurons and the L4/L5 spinal cord following surgery, and these effects were reversed by treatment with Lv-shAQP1 or a cGMP inhibitor. CONCLUSION: AQP1 plays a vital role in CCD-induced allodynia as Lv-shAQP1 significantly reduced the allodynia in CCD rats by inhibiting TRPV4 expression.

Gene therapy by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting extracellular-regulated kinase alleviates neuropathic pain in vivo.

BACKGROUNDS: Neuropathic pain is an abnormal pain, which is related to the activation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. This study was to investigate the effects of ERK knockdown via lentivirus-mediated RNA interference on allodynia in rats with chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and to uncover the potential mechanisms. METHODS: The model of chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (CCD) was established in rats by surgery. Gene silence was induced by injecting rats with lentivirus expressing ERK short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Behavioral test was performed by calculating paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TPWL). RESULTS: We firstly generated lentivirus expressing ERK shRNA to downregulate ERK gene expression both in vitro and in vivo by using Western blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In CCD, ERK mRNA, and protein levels in DRG neurons were dramatically increased, accompanied with decreased PWMT and TPWL. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference decreased ERK gene expression in DRG neurons and normalized the PWMT and TPWL in CCD rats, but not in rats infected with lentivirus expressing negative control shRNA. Further, calcium responses of DRG neurons to the hypotonic solution and 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate were enhanced in CCD rats, which were suppressed by lentivirus-mediated ERK gene silence. Finally, the levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 gene expressions in DRG neurons and L4 to L5 spinal cord isolated from CCD rats were dramatically upregulated, which were reversed by lentivirus-mediated ERK gene knockdown. CONCLUSION: Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) silencing targeting ERK might reverse CCD-induced neuropathic pain in rats through transient receptor potential vanilloid 4.

MAPK Pathways Are Involved in Neuropathic Pain in Rats with Chronic Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the MAPK pathways were involved in the mechanism of neuropathic pain in rats with chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion. We determined the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) of rats before and after CCD surgery and then after p38, JNK, or ERK inhibitors administration. Western blotting, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence of dorsal root ganglia were performed to investigate the protein and mRNA level of MAPKs and also the alternation in distributions of positive neurons in dorsal root ganglia. Intrathecal administration of MAPKs inhibitors, SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), and U0126 (ERK inhibitor), resulted in a partial reduction in CCD-induced mechanical allodynia. The reduction of allodynia was associated with significant depression in the level of both MAPKs mRNA and protein expression in CCD rats and also associated with the decreased ratios of large size MAPKs positive neurons in dorsal root ganglia. In conclusion, the specific inhibitors of MAPKs contributed to the attenuation of mechanical allodynia in CCD rats and the large size MAPKs positive neurons in dorsal root ganglia were crucial.

Effect of TRPV4-p38 MAPK Pathway on Neuropathic Pain in Rats with Chronic Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among TRPV4, p38, and neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion. Mechanical allodynia appeared after CCD surgery, enhanced via the intrathecal injection of 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD, an agonist of TRPV4) and anisomycin (an agonist of p38), but was suppressed by Ruthenium Red (RR, an inhibitor of TRPV4) and SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38). The protein expressions of p38 and P-p38 were upregulated by 4α-PDD and anisomycin injection but reduced by RR and SB203580. Moreover, TRPV4 was upregulated by 4α-PDD and SB203580 and downregulated by RR and anisomycin. In DRG tissues, the numbers of TRPV4- or p38-positive small neurons were significantly changed in CCD rats, increased by the agonists, and decreased by the inhibitors. The amplitudes of ectopic discharges were increased by 4α-PDD and anisomycin but decreased by RR and SB203580. Collectively, these results support the link between TRPV4 and p38 and their intermediary role for neuropathic pain in rats with chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion.