scholarly journals The role of connexin43 in neuropathic pain induced by spinal cord injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 555-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anhui Wang ◽  
Changshui Xu

Abstract Neuropathic pain is caused by the damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. In many neuropathic pain models, there is an increase in the number of gap junction (GJ) channels, especially the upregulation of the expression of connexin43 (Cx43), leading to the secretion of various types of cytokines and involvement in the formation of neuropathic pain. GJs are widely distributed in mammalian organs and tissues, and Cx43 is the most abundant connexin (Cx) in mammals. Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS), which mainly express Cx43. More importantly, GJs play an important role in regulating cell metabolism, signaling, and function. Many existing literatures showed that Cx43 plays an important role in the nervous system, especially in the CNS under normal and pathological conditions. However, many internal mechanisms have not yet been thoroughly explored. In this review, we summarized the current understanding of the role and association of Cx and pannexin channels in neuropathic pain, especially after spinal cord injury, as well as some of our own insights and thoughts which suggest that Cx43 may become an emerging therapeutic target for future neuropathic pain, bringing new hope to patients.

2003 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine I. Dubreuil ◽  
Matthew J. Winton ◽  
Lisa McKerracher

Growth inhibitory proteins in the central nervous system (CNS) block axon growth and regeneration by signaling to Rho, an intracellular GTPase. It is not known how CNS trauma affects the expression and activation of RhoA. Here we detect GTP-bound RhoA in spinal cord homogenates and report that spinal cord injury (SCI) in both rats and mice activates RhoA over 10-fold in the absence of changes in RhoA expression. In situ Rho-GTP detection revealed that both neurons and glial cells showed Rho activation at SCI lesion sites. Application of a Rho antagonist (C3–05) reversed Rho activation and reduced the number of TUNEL-labeled cells by ∼50% in both injured mouse and rat, showing a role for activated Rho in cell death after CNS injury. Next, we examined the role of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in Rho signaling. After SCI, an up-regulation of p75NTR was detected by Western blot and observed in both neurons and glia. Treatment with C3–05 blocked the increase in p75NTR expression. Experiments with p75NTR-null mutant mice showed that immediate Rho activation after SCI is p75NTR dependent. Our results indicate that blocking overactivation of Rho after SCI protects cells from p75NTR-dependent apoptosis.


Stem Cells ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Tao ◽  
Qun Li ◽  
Su Liu ◽  
Haiying Wu ◽  
John Skinner ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xuejing Li ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
Yongsheng Hu ◽  
Jubao Du ◽  
...  

Objective. To investigate the reorganization of insular subregions in individuals suffering from neuropathic pain (NP) after incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI) and further to disclose the underlying mechanism of NP. Method. The 3D high-resolution T1-weighted structural images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of all individuals were obtained using a 3.0 Tesla MRI system. A comparative analysis of structure and function connectivity (FC) with insular subareas as seeds in 10 ISCI individuals with below-level NP (ISCI-P), 11 ISCI individuals without NP (ISCI-N), and 25 healthy controls (HCs) was conducted. Associations between the structural and functional alteration of insula subregions and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were analyzed using the Pearson correlation in SPSS 20. Results. Compared with ISCI-N patients, when the left posterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P showed increased FC in right cerebellum VIIb and cerebellum VIII, Brodmann 37 (BA 37). When the left ventral anterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P indicated enhanced FC in right BA18 compared with ISCI-N patients. These increased FCs positively correlated with VAS scores. Relative to HCs, ISCI-P presented increased FC in the left hippocampus when the left dorsal anterior insula was determined as the seed. There was no statistical difference in the volume of insula subregions among the three groups. Conclusion. Our study indicated that distinctive patterns of FC in each subregion of insula suggest that the insular subareas participate in the NP processing through different FC following ISCI. Further, insula subregions could serve as a therapeutic target for NP following ISCI.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1198 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tera Hasbargen ◽  
Mostafa M. Ahmed ◽  
Gurwattan Miranpuri ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Kristopher T. Kahle ◽  
...  

RSC Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (32) ◽  
pp. 18677-18686
Author(s):  
Jia Liu ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Ke Huang ◽  
Chengliang Yang ◽  
Zhipeng Huang ◽  
...  

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) with a high rate of disability and a low capability of self-recovery.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. E634-E640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Y. Jeon ◽  
Vicki J. Harber ◽  
Robert D. Steadward

We studied plasma leptin levels in six people with high-lesion spinal cord injury [SCI; body mass index (BMI) 25.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2, age 37 ± 3.0 yr] and six able-bodied (AB) controls (BMI 29.1 ± 1.9 kg/m2, age 35 ± 3.5 yr) before and after 12, 24, and 36 h of fasting. The plasma leptin levels significantly decreased during 36 h fasting by 48.8 ± 4.5% (pre: 11.3 ± 2.3, post: 6.2 ± 1.5 ng/ml) and 38.6 ± 7.9% (pre: 7.6 ± 5.0, post: 4.2 ± 1.0 ng/ml) in SCI and AB, respectively. Plasma leptin started to decrease at 24 h of fasting in the SCI group, whereas plasma leptin started to decrease at 12 h of fasting in the AB group. The current study demonstrated that plasma leptin decreased with fasting in both SCI and AB groups, with the leptin decrease being delayed in the SCI group. The delayed leptin response to fasting in the SCI group may be because of increased fat mass (%body fat, SCI: 33.8 ± 3.0, AB: 24.1 ± 2.9) and sympathetic nervous system dysfunction.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 1406-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L Behrman ◽  
Mark G Bowden ◽  
Preeti M Nair

AbstractPhysical rehabilitation after spinal cord injury has been based on the premise that the nervous system is hard-wired and irreparable. Upon this assumption, clinicians have compensated for irremediable sensorimotor deficits using braces, assistive devices, and wheelchairs to achieve upright and seated mobility. Evidence from basic science, however, demonstrates that the central nervous system after injury is malleable and can learn, and this evidence has challenged our current assumptions. The evidence is especially compelling concerning locomotion. The purpose of this perspective article is to summarize the evidence supporting an impending paradigm shift from compensation for deficits to rehabilitation as an agent for walking recovery. A physiologically based approach for the rehabilitation of walking has developed, translating evidence for activity-dependent neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury and the neurobiological control of walking. Advanced by partnerships among neuroscientists, clinicians, and researchers, critical rehabilitation concepts are emerging for activity-based therapy to improve walking recovery, with promising clinical findings.


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