β-elemene relieves neuropathic pain in mice through the regulation on C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 and GABAA receptor

Author(s):  
Yi Dai ◽  
Zhenhua Zeng ◽  
Shuo Deng ◽  
Sanbao Zou ◽  
Tingyang Dou

β-elemene (Bel) is a sesquiterpene compound has shown potential in the antinociceptive treatment. This study focused on the function of Bel in neuropathic pain relief in mice. A murine model with spared nerve injury (SNI) was established and treated with Bel. The paw withdrawal thresholds in response to mechanical and thermal stimulations were examined using von Frey filaments. The L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn tissue samples were collected for histological examination. Bel treatment reduced the sensitivities of model mice to mechanical and thermal stimulations, and it inhibited activation of microglia and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in tissues. Bel treatment reduced the expression of nociceptor excitatory NMDAR whereas enhanced the expression of nociceptor inhibitory GABAA receptor to relieve the nociception of mice. CXCR3 was a downstream molecule mediated by Bel. Either overexpression of CXCR3 or downregulation of GABAA receptor in the tissues aggravated the neuropathic pain in SNI mice which was initially relieved by Bel. In conclusion, this study suggested that Bel might serve as a drug for nociception management by inhibiting CXCR3 and upregulating GABAA receptor. This study may offer novel insights into the field of neuropathic pain relief.

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qiu Ma ◽  
Jing Qin ◽  
Hong-Yan Li ◽  
Xiu-Li Yan ◽  
Yong Zhao ◽  
...  

Hyperalgesia and allodynia are commonly observed in patients with diabetic neuropathy. The treatment and management of painful peripheral neuropathy is important in these patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of exercise in modulating neuropathic pain induced by diabetes. Diabetes was induced in rats by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Control rats received saline injections. Groups included control rats without exercise (NT-control, n = 12), control rats with exercise (EX-control, n = 16), STZ rats without exercise (NT-STZ, n = 18), and STZ rats with exercise (EX-STZ, n = 22). Rats in EX groups ran on a treadmill 4 days/week for 5 weeks beginning from the week of STZ administration. Mechanical hypersensitivity (mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds [PWTs]) and glucose levels were tested weekly. Then, enzyme-linked immunoassay and Western blot analysis were used to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) and their receptors in sensory nerves. PWTs were significantly increased after 4–5 weeks of exercise in STZ rats ( p < .05 vs. NT-STZ rats). Inhibition of neuropathic pain by exercise in STZ rats was accompanied by decreases in interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and downregulated expression of their receptors. Furthermore, blocking individual PIC receptors elevated PWTs to a greater degree in STZ rats ( p < .05 vs. control rats). Overall, our data suggest that exercise can play a role in improving neuropathic pain induced by STZ and that PIC signaling is a part of the mechanism involved in this effect.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 2098-2110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunrui Li ◽  
Taoran Deng ◽  
Zhen Shang ◽  
Di Wang ◽  
Yi Xiao

Background/Aims: Bortezomib (BTZ) is largely used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of multiple myeloma. However, one of the significant limiting complications of BTZ is painful peripheral neuropathy during BTZ therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the underlying mechanisms leading to neuropathic pain induced by BTZ. Methods: ELISA and western blot analysis were used to examine the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its receptor, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and intracellular p38-MAPK and JNK signal in the lumbar dorsal root ganglion. Behavioral test was performed to determine mechanical pain and cold sensitivity in a rat model. Results: Systemic injection of BTZ significantly increased mechanical pain and cold sensitivity as compared with control animals (P< 0.05 vs. control rats). Our data also showed that protein expression of TRPA1 was upregulated in the dorsal root ganglion of BTZ rats and blocking TRPA1 attenuated mechanical pain and cold sensitivity in control rats and BTZ rats (P< 0.05 vs. vehicle control). Notably, the inhibitory effect of blocking TRPA1 on mechanical pain and cold sensitivity was smaller in BTZ rats than that in control rats. In addition, a blockade of TNF-α attenuated intracellular p38-MAPK and JNK signal in the dorsal root ganglion. This also decreased TRPA1 expression and alleviated mechanical hyperalgesia and cold hypersensitivity in BTZ rats. Conclusion: We revealed specific signaling pathways leading to neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapeutic BTZ. The data also suggest that blocking TRPA1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha is beneficial to alleviate neuropathic pain during BTZ intervention.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyou Peng ◽  
Leiqiong Zha ◽  
Meijuan Yang ◽  
Yunze Li ◽  
Xuejiao Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract Ghrelin has been shown to alleviate neuropathic pain by inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling in mediating the effect of ghrelin on neuropathic pain and to understand the associated mechanisms. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve was used to establish a rat model of neuropathic pain. Hyperalgesia and allodynia were evaluated by observing the mechanical withdrawal threshold and the thermal withdrawal latency. Wnt3a and β-catenin protein expression and GSK-3β phosphorylation were detected by western blotting analysis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, we used immunohistochemical analysis to determine the levels of GSK-3β phosphorylation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Intrathecal delivery of ghrelin effectively ameliorated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia at 7 and 14 days and reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α. Ghrelin inhibited CCI-induced GSK-3β activation and β-catenin overexpression in the spinal dorsal horn. Moreover, intrathecal injection of ghrelin suppressed the activation of GSK-3β in the spinal dorsal horn of CCI rats, as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. Our data indicated that ghrelin could markedly alleviate neuropathic pain by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin, via the suppression of GSK-3β activation, in the spinal cord of CCI rats.


2019 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 149-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erkoseoglu Ilknur ◽  
Kadioglu Mine ◽  
Cavusoglu Irem ◽  
Sisman Mulkiye ◽  
Aran Turhan ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenna Gao ◽  
Ruilin Zhu ◽  
liu yang

Background: Mounting evidence has suggested tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) can promote the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and TNF-α gene variants may influence DR risk. However, the results are quite different. Objectives: To comprehensively address this issue, we performed the meta-analysis to evaluate the association of TNF-α-308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphism with DR. Method: Data were retrieved in a systematic manner and analyzed using STATA Statistical Software. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. Allelic and genotypic comparisons between cases and controls were evaluated. Results: For the TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism, overall analysis suggested a marginal association with DR [the OR(95%CI) of (GA versus GG), (GA + AA) versus GG, and (A versus G) are 1.21(1.04, 1.41), 1.20(1.03, 1.39), and 1.14(1.01, 1.30), respectively]. And the subgroup analysis indicated an enhanced association among the European population. For the TNF-α-238 G/A polymorphism, there was mild correlation in the entire group [the OR(95%CI) of (GA versus GG) is 1.55(1.14,2.11) ], which was strengthened among the Asian population. Conclusion: The meta-analysis suggested that -308 A and -238 A allele in TNF-α gene potentially increased DR risk and showed a discrepancy in different ethnicities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 030006052098465
Author(s):  
Like Qian ◽  
Xi Yin ◽  
Jiahao Ji ◽  
Zhengli Chen ◽  
He Fang ◽  
...  

Background The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α small interfering (si)RNA alveolar epithelial cell (AEC)-targeting nanoparticles in lung injury is unclear. Methods Sixty C57BL/6J mice with sepsis were divided into normal, control, sham, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg siRNA AEC-targeting nanoparticles groups (n = 10 per group). The wet:dry lung weight ratio, and hematoxylin and eosin staining, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for inflammatory factors were conducted to compare differences among groups. Results The wet:dry ratio was significantly lower in control and sham groups than other groups. TNF-α siRNA AEC-targeting nanoparticles significantly reduced the number of eosinophils, with significantly lower numbers in the 50 mg/kg group than in 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg groups. The nanoparticles also significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α, B-cell lymphoma-2, caspase 3, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, with TNF-α expression being significantly lower in the 50 mg/kg group than in 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg groups. Conclusion TNF-α siRNA AEC-targeting nanoparticles appear to be effective at improving lung injury-related sepsis, and 50 mg/kg may be a preferred dose option for administration.


2005 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Orzeszko ◽  
Tomasz Świtaj ◽  
Anna B. Jakubowska-Mućka ◽  
Witold Lasek ◽  
Andrzej Orzeszko ◽  
...  

Certain adamantylated heterocycles were previously shown to enhance the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by murine melanoma cells that have been transduced with the gene for human TNF-α and constitutively expressed this cytokine. The stimulatory potency of those compounds depended, among other factors, on the structure of the linker between the adamantyl residue and the heterocyclic core. In the present study, a series of (1-adamantyl)alkylsulfanyl derivatives of heterocyclic compounds was prepared by alkylation of the corresponding thioheterocyles. Of the novel adamantylalkylthio compounds tested in the aforementioned cell line, 2-(2-adamantan-1-ylethylsulfanyl)- 4-methyl-pyrimidine was found to be the most active


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document