TGF-β1 attenuates spinal neuroinflammation and the excitatory amino acid system in rats with neuropathic pain

Nan Fu Chen, Shi Ying Huang, Wu Fu Chen, Chun Hong Chen, Ching Hsiang Lu, Chun Lin Chen, San Nan Yang, Hui Min Wang, Zhi Hong Wen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies have reported that the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) prevents and reverses neuropathic pain. However, only limited information is available regarding the possible role and effects of spinal TGF-β1 in neuropathic pain. We aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of exogenous TGF-β1 on chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain in rats. We demonstrated that sciatic nerve injury caused a downregulation of endogenous TGF-β1 levels on the ipsilateral side of the lumbar spinal dorsal gray matter, and that the i.t. administration of TGF-β1 (.01-10 ng) significantly attenuated CCI-induced thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic rats. TGF-β1 significantly inhibited CCI-induced spinal neuroinflammation, microglial and astrocytic activation, and upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, i.t. TGF-β1 significantly attenuated the CCI-induced downregulation of glutamate transporter 1, the glutamate aspartate transporter, and the excitatory amino acid carrier 1 on the ipsilateral side. Furthermore, i.t. TGF-β1 significantly decreased the concentrations of 2 excitatory amino acids, aspartate and glutamate, in the spinal dialysates in CCI rats. In summary, we conclude that the mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects of i.t. TGF-β1 in neuropathy may include attenuation of spinal neuroinflammation, attenuation, or upregulation of glutamate transporter downregulation, and a decrease of spinal extracellular excitatory amino acids. Perspective Clinically, medical treatment is usually initiated after the onset of intractable pain. Therefore, in the present study, i.t. TGF-β1 was designed to be administered 2 weeks after the establishment of CCI pain. Compared to the continuous TGF-β1 infusion mode, single-dose administration seems more convenient and practical to use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1671-1685
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Pain
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Transforming growth factor-β1
  • chronic constriction injury
  • excitatory amino acids
  • glutamate transporters
  • tumor necrosis factor-α

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