Cancer-induced bone pain sequentially activates the ERK/MAPK pathway in different cell types in the rat spinal cord.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrates that, after nerve injury, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation in the spinal cord-initially in neurons, then microglia, and finally astrocytes. In addition, phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK) contributes to nociceptive responses following inflammation and/or nerve injury. However, the role of spinal cells and the ERK/MAPK pathway in cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) remains poorly understood. The present study analyzed activation of spinal cells and the ERK/MAPK pathway in a rat model of bone cancer pain. RESULTS: A Sprague Dawley rat model of bone cancer pain was established and the model was evaluated by a series of tests. Moreover, fluorocitrate (reversible glial metabolic inhibitor) and U0126 (a MEK inhibitor) was administered intrathecally. Western blots and double immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression and location of phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK). Our studies on pain behavior show that the time between day 6 and day 18 is a reasonable period ("time window" as the remaining stages) to investigate bone cancer pain mechanisms and to research analgesic drugs. Double-labeling immunofluorescence revealed that p-ERK was sequentially expressed in neurons, microglia, and astrocytes in the L4-5 superficial spinal cord following inoculation of Walker 256 cells. Phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK) and the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) increased in the spinal cord of CIBP rats, which was attenuated by intrathecal injection of fluorocitrate or U0126. CONCLUSIONS: The ERK inhibitors could have a useful role in CIBP management, because the same target is expressed in various cells at different times.

[Antioxidant xanthones from Securidaca inappendiculata].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antioxidant constituents from the roots of Securidaca inappendiculata. METHOD: The bioassay-guided isolation of antioxidant constituents was carried out by the column chromatographic techniques. The combination of IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR spectroscopics methods was used to identify their structures. RESULT: Two new xanthones, 1, 2, 5-trihydroxy-6, 8-dimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(1), 1, 5-dihydroxy-2, 6, 8-trimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (2), along with seven known ones, 3, 8-dihydroxy-1, 4-dimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(3), 4, 6-dihydroxy-1, 5, 7-trimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(4), 7-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 8-tetramethoxy-9H-xanthen- 9-one(5), 1, 7-dihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(6), 4-hydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(7), 1,7-dimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one(8) and aucuparin(9), were isolated from the roots of S. inappendiculata. CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 and 2 were new xanthones, and compound 3 was isolated as a natural product for the first time, and compounds 4 and 6 were isolated for the first time from this genus. The antioxidant activities of all compounds were evaluated by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays respectively. Compound 9 showed significant activity by the ABTS and FRAP assays. Compound 1 showed significant activity with IC50 value of 0.31 mg x L(-1) in DPPH assay. Scavenging capacity of all compounds determined by all assays were well correlated between ABTS and FRAP assay (r = 0.9555).

[Research of autophagy activity between rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem neural differentiation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the autophagy activity between rat bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) neural differentiation in order to explore the mechanism involve in this process. METHODS: BMSCs were passed by 3 generation, then was induced with the revulsant 2% (DMSO) + 200 µmol/L (BHA), NSE expression was detected by immunocytochemical stain, the mRNA expression of autophagy associated genes L3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7, Atg10 were detected by RT-PCR, the autophagy protein LC3B was examined by Western blot and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: BMSCs were passed by 3 generation, the purity of BMSCs could reach more than 90%, the morphology of cells were like fibroblasts, after the revulsant 2% DMSO + 200 µmol/L BRA induced, cells were extended long neurites, like nerve cells, positive rate of NSE staining was (83±5) %, RT-PCR results showed that the expression of autophagy associated genes LC3B, Beclinl, Atg5, Atg7 Atg0 were rised after BMSCs neural differentiation, Western blot analysis showed that the LC3B-II protein expression was increased after neural differentiation and the MFI of L3B was highten by flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: Autophagy is increased after rat BMSC neural differentiation.

Involvement of CX3CR1 in bone cancer pain through the activation of microglia p38 MAPK pathway in the spinal cord.

Previous studies have demonstrated that fractalkine, a newly discovered chemokine, is implicated in spinal cord neuron-to-microglia activation signaling as well as mediation of neuropathic and inflammatory pain via its sole receptor CX3CR1, which is specifically expressed on microglia. However, whether it is involved in bone cancer pain (BCP) and the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study we utilized a Sprague-Dawley rat animal model, and our findings indicated that on day 6, 12, and 18 following bone cancer pain induced by Walker 256 cell inoculation, the expression level of CX3CR1 in the spinal cord gradually increased. Intrathecal injection of a neutralizing antibody against CX3CR1 not only delayed the initiation of mechanical allodynia, but also attenuated established pain sensitization of BCP rats. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blockade of CX3CR1 suppressed the activation of microglia and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the spinal cord in BCP rats. These results suggest a new mechanism of BCP, in which the microglia CX3CR1/p38 signaling cascade potentially plays an important role in facilitating pain processing in BCP rats.