Effect of artemisinin on neuropathic pain mediated by P2X4 receptor in dorsal root ganglia. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ying, Mofeng; Liu, Hui; Zhang, Tengling; Jiang, Chenxu; Gong, Yingxin; Wu, Bing; Zou, Lifang; Yi, Zhihua; Rao, Shenqiang; Li, Guilin; Zhang, Chunping; Jia, Tianyu; Zhao, Shanhong; Yuan, Huilong; Shi, Liran; Li, Lin; Liang, Shangdong; Liu, Shuangmei
• Is Part Of: Neurochemistry international. Volume 108(2017)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 33
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: P2X4 receptor -- Dorsal root ganglia -- Satellite glial cell -- Artemisinin -- Neuropathic pain; Art artemisinin -- CCI Chronic Constriction Injury -- SGC satellite glial cells -- GFAP glial fibrillary acidic protein -- DRG dorsal root ganglia -- MWT Mechanical Withdrawal Threshold -- TWL Thermal Withdrawal Latency -- RT-PCR Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Periodicals; 612.804205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2017.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-0186

Abstract

Abstract: Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain caused by nervous system damage and dysfunction. The pathogenesis of chronic pain is complicated, and there are no effective therapies for neuropathic pain. Studies show that the P2X4 receptor expressed in the satellite glial cells (SGCs) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is related to neuropathic pain. Artemisinin is a monomeric component extracted from traditional Chinese medicine and has a variety of important pharmacological effects and potential applications. This study observed the effect of artemisinin on neuropathic pain and delineated its possible mechanism. The chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model was used in this study. The results demonstrated that artemisinin relieved pain behaviors in the CCI rats, inhibited the expression of P2X4 receptor in the DRG, and decreased the ATP-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with P2X4 plasmid. Dual-labeling immunofluorescence showed that the coexpression of P2X4 receptor and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the DRG of CCI rats was increased compared to control rats. After CCI rats were treated with artemisinin, the coexpression of P2X4 receptor and GFAP in the DRG was significantly decreased compared to the CCI group. This finding suggested that artemisinin could inhibit the nociceptive transmission mediated by P2X4 receptor in the DRG SGCs and thus relieve pain behaviors in the CCI rats. Highlights: Activated P2X4 receptor in DRG SGC aggravated pain in CCI rats. Upregulation of P2X4 and GFAP coexpression in DRG was increased after CCI. Artemisinin inhibited ATP currents in HEK293 cells transfected with P2X4 . Artemisinin inhibited upregulated P2X4 and GFAP coexpression in DRG. Artemisinin relieved hyperalgesia mediated by P2X4 in DRG of CCI rats.