scholarly journals Age-related gene expression changes in lumbar spinal cord: Implications for neuropathic pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 174480692097191
Author(s):  
Jack A Mayhew ◽  
Mitchell J Cummins ◽  
Ethan T Cresswell ◽  
Robert J Callister ◽  
Doug W Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Pathological Pain ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dorsal Spinal ◽  
Young Mice

Clinically, pain has an uneven incidence throughout lifespan and impacts more on the elderly. In contrast, preclinical models of pathological pain have typically used juvenile or young adult animals to highlight the involvement of glial populations, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in the onset and maintenance of pathological signalling in the spinal dorsal horn. The potential impact of this mismatch is also complicated by the growing appreciation that the aged central nervous system exists in a state of chronic inflammation because of enhanced proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine signalling and glial activation. To address this issue, we investigated the impact of aging on the expression of genes that have been associated with neuropathic pain, glial signalling, neurotransmission and neuroinflammation. We used qRT-PCR to quantify gene expression and focussed on the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as this is an important perturbation site in neuropathic pain. To control for global vs region-specific age-related changes in gene expression, the ventral half of the spinal cord was examined. Our results show that expression of proinflammatory chemokines, pattern recognition receptors, and neurotransmitter system components was significantly altered in aged (24–32 months) versus young mice (2–4 months). Notably, the magnitude and direction of these changes were spinal-cord region dependent. For example, expression of the chemokine, Cxcl13, increased 119-fold in dorsal spinal cord, but only 2-fold in the ventral spinal cord of old versus young mice. Therefore, we propose the dorsal spinal cord of old animals is subject to region-specific alterations that prime circuits for the development of pathological pain, potentially in the absence of the peripheral triggers normally associated with these conditions.

CB2/miR-124 signaling down-regulate the expression of purinergic P2X4 and P2X7 receptor in dorsal spinal cord of CCI rats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Xu ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Lijuan Li ◽  
Xiaohong Liu ◽  
Xiaolu Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Cb2 Receptor ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
P38mapk Pathway ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

Abstract Background: The importance of P2X purinoceptors, CB2 receptor and microRNA-124(miR-124) in spinal cord microglia to the development of neuropathic pain was demonstrated in numerous previous studies. The upregulation of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors in spinal dorsal horn microglia is involved in the development of pain behavior caused by peripheral nerve injury. However, it is not clear whether the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors at dorsal spinal cord will be influenced by CB2 receptor or miR-124 in rats after chronic sciatic nerve injury.Methods: Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve was performed in rats to induce neuropathic pain. Tests of the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) were carried out to assess the response of the paw to mechanical stimulus. The expression of miR-124, P2X4, P2X7 and CB2 receptor were detected with RT-PCR. The protein expression of P2X4, P2X7 and CB2 receptor, RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, p-p38MAPK and p-NF-kappaBp65 was detected with Western blotting analysis. Results: Intrathecal administration of CB2 receptor agonist AM1241 significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and significantly inhibited the increased expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors at the mRNA and protein levels, which imply that P2X4 and P2X7 receptors expression are down-regulated by AM1241 in CCI rats. Western blot analysis showed that AM1241 suppressed the elevated expression of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, p-p38MAPK and NF-κBp65 in the dorsal spinal cord induced by CCI. After administration with Y-27632 (ROCK inhibitor), SB203580 (P38MAPK inhibitor) or PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor), the levels of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors expression in the dorsal spinal cord were lower than those in CCI rats, which imply that the ROCK/P38MAPK pathway and NF-κB activation may contribute to the increased expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptor. On the other hand, in CCI rats, AM1241 treatment evoked the increased expression of CB2 receptor and miRNA-124, which can be inhibited by intrathecal injection of CB2 receptor antagonist AM630, which indicate that the increased expression of miRNA-124 may be medicated by CB2 receptor activation. In addition, the increased expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors in the dorsal spinal cord of CCI rats were inhibited by miRNA-124 agomir. Furthermore, intrathecal injection of miRNA-124 agomir could efficiently inhibit the ROCK/P38MAPK pathway and NF-κB activation in CCI rats. Moreover, AM1241 treatment significantly inhibited the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors, and this suppression is enhanced by pretreatment with miRNA-124 agomir. On the contrast, the inhibitory effect of AM1241 on the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptor can be reversed by pretreatment with miRNA-124 antagomir.Conclusions: In CCI rats, intrathecal injection of AM1241 could efficiently induce the increased expression of miRNA-124, while inhibiting the ROCK/P38MAPK pathway and NF-κB activation in dorsal spinal cord. CB2 receptor/miRNA-124 signaling induced the decreased P2X4 and P2X7 receptors expression via inhibit the ROCK/P38MAPK pathway and NF-κB activation.

Comprehensive analysis of neurobehavior associated with histomorphological alterations in a chronic constrictive nerve injury model through use of the CatWalk XT system

2014 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 250-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Yi Chiang ◽  
Meei-Ling Sheu ◽  
Fu-Chou Cheng ◽  
Chun-Jung Chen ◽  
Hong-Lin Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Mechanical Allodynia ◽  
S100 Protein ◽  
Thermal Hyperalgesia ◽  
Nerve Damage ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Sensory Evoked ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

Object Neuropathic pain is debilitating, and when chronic, it significantly affects the patient physically, psychologically, and socially. The neurobehavior of animals used as a model for chronic constriction injury seems analogous to the neurobehavior of humans with neuropathic pain. However, no data depicting the severity of histomorphological alterations of the nervous system associated with graded changes in neurobehavior are available. To determine the severity of histomorphological alteration related to neurobehavior, the authors created a model of chronic constrictive injury of varying intensity in rats and used the CatWalk XT system to evaluate neurobehavior. Methods A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250–300 g each, were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups that would receive sham surgery or 1, 2, 3, or 4 ligatures of 3-0 chromic gut loosely ligated around the left sciatic nerve. Neurobehavior was assessed by CatWalk XT, thermal hyperalgesia, and mechanic allodynia before injury and periodically after injury. The nerve tissue from skin to dorsal spinal cord was obtained for histomorphological analysis 1 week after injury, and brain evoked potentials were analyzed 4 weeks after injury. Results. Significant differences in expression of nerve growth factor existed in skin, and the differences were associated with the intensity of nerve injury. After injury, expression of cluster of differentiation 68 and tumor necrosis factor–α was increased, and expression of S100 protein in the middle of the injured nerve was decreased. Increased expression of synaptophysin in the dorsal root ganglion and dorsal spinal cord correlated with the intensity of injury. The amplitude of sensory evoked potential increased with greater severity of nerve damage. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia did not differ significantly among treatment groups at various time points. CatWalk XT gait analysis indicated significant differences for print areas, maximum contact maximum intensity, stand phase, swing phase, single stance, and regular index, with sham and/or intragroup comparisons. Conclusions. Histomorphological and electrophysiological alterations were associated with severity of nerve damage. Subtle neurobehavioral differences were detected by the CatWalk XT system but not by mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. Thus, the CatWalk XT system should be a useful tool for monitoring changes in neuropathic pain, especially subtle alterations.

scholarly journals Proteomic analysis of the dorsal spinal cord in the mouse model of spared nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Park Eun-sung ◽  
Ahn Jung-mo ◽  
Jeon Sang-min ◽  
Cho Hee-jung ◽  
Chung Ki-myung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Proteomic Analysis ◽  
Spared Nerve Injury ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

scholarly journals T-Cell Infiltration and Signaling in the Adult Dorsal Spinal Cord Is a Major Contributor to Neuropathic Pain-Like Hypersensitivity

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (46) ◽  
pp. 14415-14422 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Costigan ◽  
A. Moss ◽  
A. Latremoliere ◽  
C. Johnston ◽  
M. Verma-Gandhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Infiltration ◽  
Major Contributor ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
T Cell Infiltration ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

scholarly journals Sensory axons are guided by local cues in the developing dorsal spinal cord

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sharma ◽  
E. Frank
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Sensory Axons ◽  
Ventral Cord ◽  
Dorsal Columns ◽  
Ia Projections ◽  
Dorsal Spinal ◽  
Local Cues

During development, different classes of sensory neurons establish distinctive central projections within the spinal cord. Muscle spindle afferents (Ia fibers) grow ventrally through the dorsal horn to the ventral cord, whereas cutaneous sensory collaterals remain confined to the dorsal horn. We have studied the nature of the cues used by Ia fibers in establishing their characteristic projections within the dorsal horn. An organotypic culture preparation of embryonic chicken spinal cord and sensory ganglia was used to test the influence of ventral spinal cord and local cues within the dorsal spinal cord on the growing Ia afferents. When the ventral half of the spinal cord was replaced with an inverted duplicate dorsal half, Ia fibers entering through the dorsal columns still grew ventrally within the host dorsal horn. After the fibers entered the duplicate dorsal half, they continued growing in the same direction. With respect to the duplicate dorsal tissue, this was in an opposite, ventral-to-dorsal, direction. In both cases, however, Ia collaterals remained confined to the medial dorsal laminae. Restriction to these laminae was maintained even when the fibers had to change their direction of growth to stay within them. These results show that cues from the ventral cord are not required for the development of correct Ia projections within the dorsal horn. Local, rather than long-range directional, cues appear to determine the pattern of these projections. When the ventral half of the spinal cord was left intact but sensory axons were forced to enter the dorsal gray matter growing rostrally or caudally, their collateral axons grew in random directions, further showing the absence of directional cues even when the ventral cord was present. Taken together, these observations suggest that Ia fibers are guided by local positional cues that keep them confined to the medial gray matter within the dorsal horn, but their direction of growth is determined primarily by their orientation and position as they enter the dorsal gray matter.

scholarly journals Calcium channel alpha-2-delta-1 protein upregulation in dorsal spinal cord mediates spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain states

Pain ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Boroujerdi ◽  
Jun Zeng ◽  
Kelli Sharp ◽  
Donghyun Kim ◽  
Oswald Steward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

scholarly journals Regeneration of dorsal spinal cord neurons after injury via in situ NeuroD1-mediated astrocyte-to-neuron conversion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Puls ◽  
Yan Ding ◽  
Fengyu Zhang ◽  
Mengjie Pan ◽  
Zhuofan Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Reactive Astrocytes ◽  
Dorsal Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Neurons ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Dorsal Spinal

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to impaired motor and sensory functions, partially because the injury-induced neuronal loss cannot be easily replenished through endogenous mechanisms. In vivo neuronal reprogramming has emerged as a novel technology to regenerate neurons from endogenous glial cells by forced expression of neurogenic transcription factors. We have previously demonstrated successful astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in mouse brains with injury or Alzheimer’s disease by overexpressing a single neural transcription factor NeuroD1 via retroviruses. Here we demonstrate regeneration of dorsal spinal cord neurons from reactive astrocytes after SCI via adeno-associated virus (AAV), a more clinically relevant gene delivery system. We find that NeuroD1 converts reactive astrocytes into neurons in the dorsal horn of stab-injured spinal cord with high efficiency (∼95%). Interestingly, NeuroD1-converted neurons in the dorsal horn mostly acquire glutamatergic neuronal subtype, expressing spinal cord-specific markers such as Tlx3 but not brain-specific markers such as Tbr1, suggesting that the astrocytic lineage and local microenvironment affect the cell fate of conversion. Electrophysiological recordings show that the NeuroD1-converted neurons can functionally mature and integrate into local spinal cord circuitry by displaying repetitive action potentials and spontaneous synaptic responses. We further show that NeuroD1-mediated neuronal conversion can occur in the contusive SCI model, allowing future studies of evaluating this reprogramming technology for functional recovery after SCI. In conclusion, this study may suggest a paradigm shift for spinal cord repair using in vivo astrocyte-to-neuron conversion technology to generate functional neurons in the grey matter.

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