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BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection (AD) is a fatal cardiovascular disorder without effective medications due to unclear pathogenic mechanisms. Bestrophin3 (Best3), the predominant isoform of bestrophin family in vessels, has emerged as critical for vascular pathological processes. However, the contribution of Best3 to vascular diseases remains elusive. METHODS: Smooth muscle cell–specific and endothelial cell–specific Best3 knockout mice (Best3 SMKO and Best3 ECKO , respectively) were engineered to investigate the role of Best3 in vascular pathophysiology. Functional studies, single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics analysis, and coimmunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry were performed to evaluate the function of Best3 in vessels. RESULTS: Best3 expression in aortas of human AD samples and mouse AD models was decreased. Best3 SMKO but not Best3 ECKO mice spontaneously developed AD with age, and the incidence reached 48% at 72 weeks of age. Reanalysis of single-cell transcriptome data revealed that reduction of fibromyocytes, a fibroblast-like smooth muscle cell cluster, was a typical feature of human ascending AD and aneurysm. Consistently, Best3 deficiency in smooth muscle cells decreased the number of fibromyocytes. Mechanistically, Best3 interacted with both MEKK2 and MEKK3, and this interaction inhibited phosphorylation of MEKK2 at serine153 and MEKK3 at serine61. Best3 deficiency induced phosphorylation-dependent inhibition of ubiquitination and protein turnover of MEKK2/3, thereby activating the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade. Furthermore, restoration of Best3 or inhibition of MEKK2/3 prevented AD progression in angiotensin II–infused Best3 SMKO and ApoE −/− mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings unveil a critical role of Best3 in regulating smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch and aortic structural integrity through controlling MEKK2/3 degradation. Best3–MEKK2/3 signaling represents a novel therapeutic target for AD.

Aims Our previous study demonstrated that Ca2+ influx through the Orai1 store-operated Ca2+ channel in macrophages contributes to foam cell formation and atherosclerosis via the calcineurin–ASK1 pathway, not the classical calcineurin–nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) pathway. Moreover, up-regulation of NFATc3 in macrophages inhibits foam cell formation, suggesting that macrophage NFATc3 is a negative regulator of atherogenesis. Hence, this study investigated the precise role of macrophage NFATc3 in atherogenesis. Methods and results Macrophage-specific NFATc3 knockout mice were generated to determine the effect of NFATc3 on atherosclerosis in a mouse model of adeno-associated virus-mutant PCSK9-induced atherosclerosis. NFATc3 expression was decreased in macrophages within human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions. Moreover, NFATc3 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from atherosclerotic patients were negatively associated with plaque instability. Furthermore, macrophage-specific ablation of NFATc3 in mice led to the atherosclerotic plaque formation, whereas macrophage-specific NFATc3 transgenic mice exhibited the opposite phenotype. NFATc3 deficiency in macrophages promoted foam cell formation by potentiating SR-A- and CD36-meditated lipid uptake. NFATc3 directly targeted and transcriptionally up-regulated miR-204 levels. Mature miR-204-5p suppressed SR-A expression via canonical regulation. Unexpectedly, miR-204-3p localized in the nucleus and inhibited CD36 transcription. Restoration of miR-204 abolished the proatherogenic phenotype observed in the macrophage-specific NFATc3 knockout mice, and blockade of miR-204 function reversed the beneficial effects of NFATc3 in macrophages. Conclusion Macrophage NFATc3 up-regulates miR-204 to reduce SR-A and CD36 levels, thereby preventing foam cell formation and atherosclerosis, indicating that the NFATc3/miR-204 axis may be a potential therapeutic target against atherosclerosis.

Summary It is well known that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) regulates neuronal structures and functions by nuclear transcription. Here, we showed that phospho-p65 (p-p65), an active form of NF-κB subunit, reversibly interacted with Nav1.7 channels in the membrane of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of rats. The interaction increased Nav1.7 currents by slowing inactivation of Nav1.7 channels and facilitating their recovery from inactivation, which may increase the resting state of the channels ready for activation. In cultured DRG neurons TNF-α upregulated the membrane p-p65 and enhanced Nav1.7 currents within 5 min but did not affect nuclear NF-κB within 40 min. This non-transcriptional effect on Nav1.7 may underlie a rapid regulation of the sensibility of the somatosensory system. Both NF-κB and Nav1.7 channels are critically implicated in many physiological functions and diseases. Our finding may shed new light on the investigation into the underlying mechanisms., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • NF-κB p-p65 interacts with Nav1.7 in the membrane of DRG neurons • The interaction is reversible, depending on the cytoplasmic p-p65 content • Reducing cytoplasmic p-p65 rapidly attenuates the interaction and Nav1.7 currents • The rapid effect on Nav1.7 channels is independent of p-p65 nuclear translocation, Biological Sciences; Neuroscience; Molecular Neuroscience; Cellular Neuroscience

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease, and the mechanisms underpinning its pathogenesis have not been completely established. Transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A), a component of the Ca2+‐activated chloride channel (CaCC), has recently been implicated in metabolic events. Herein, TMEM16A is shown to be responsible for CaCC activation in hepatocytes and is increased in liver tissues of mice and patients with NAFLD. Hepatocyte‐specific ablation of TMEM16A in mice ameliorates high‐fat diet‐induced obesity, hepatic glucose metabolic disorder, steatosis, insulin resistance, and inflammation. In contrast, hepatocyte‐specific TMEM16A transgenic mice exhibit the opposite phenotype. Mechanistically, hepatocyte TMEM16A interacts with vesicle‐associated membrane protein 3 (VAMP3) to induce its degradation, suppressing the formation of the VAMP3/syntaxin 4 and VAMP3/synaptosome‐associated protein 23 complexes. This leads to the impairment of hepatic glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) translocation and glucose uptake. Notably, VAMP3 overexpression restrains the functions of hepatocyte TMEM16A in blocking GLUT2 translocation and promoting lipid deposition, insulin resistance, and inflammation. In contrast, VAMP3 knockdown reverses the beneficial effects of TMEM16A downregulation. This study demonstrates a role for TMEM16A in NAFLD and suggests that inhibition of hepatic TMEM16A or disruption of TMEM16A/VAMP3 interaction may provide a new potential therapeutic strategy for NAFLD., Transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A) is an essential component of the hepatocyte calcium‐activated chloride channel and is increased in livers with hepatic steatosis. It interacts with vesicle‐associated membrane protein 3 to disrupt soluble Nethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptors formation, thereby limiting glucose transporter 2 translocation and hepatic glucose uptake. Liver‐specific deficiency of TMEM16A ameliorates glucose metabolic disorder and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

N-type voltage-gated calcium (Cav2.2) channels are expressed in the central terminals of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and are critical for neurotransmitter release. Cav2.2 channels are also expressed in the soma of DRG neurons, where their function remains largely unknown. Here, we showed that Cav2.2 was upregulated in the soma of uninjured L4 DRG neurons, but downregulated in those of injured L5 DRG neurons following L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5-SNL). Local application of specific Cav2.2 blockers (ω-conotoxin GVIA, 1–100 μM or ZC88, 10–1000 μM) onto L4 and 6 DRGs on the operated side, but not the contralateral side, dose-dependently reversed mechanical allodynia induced by L5-SNL. Patch clamp recordings revealed that both ω-conotoxin GVIA (1 μM) and ZC88 (10 μM) depressed hyperexcitability in L4 but not in L5 DRG neurons of L5-SNL rats. Consistent with this, knockdown of Cav2.2 in L4 DRG neurons with AAV-Cav2.2 shRNA substantially prevented L5-SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and hyperexcitability of L4 DRG neurons. Furthermore, in L5-SNL rats, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-10 were upregulated in L4 DRGs and L5 DRGs, respectively. Intrathecal injection of IL-1β induced mechanical allodynia and Cav2.2 upregulation in bilateral L4–6 DRGs of naive rats, whereas injection of IL-10 substantially prevented mechanical allodynia and Cav2.2 upregulation in L4 DRGs in L5-SNL rats. Finally, in cultured DRG neurons, Cav2.2 was dose-dependently upregulated by IL-1β and downregulated by IL-10. These data indicate that the upregulation of Cav2.2 in uninjured DRG neurons via IL-1β over-production contributes to neuropathic pain by increasing neuronal excitability following peripheral nerve injury.

Oral Bulleyaconitine A (BLA) is effective for treating neuropathic pain in human patients, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we tested whether BLA blocked voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Compelling evidence shows that voltage-gated sodium channels are upregulated in uninjured DRG neurons but downregulated in injured ones following peripheral nerve injury. We found that BLA preferably inhibited Na currents in uninjured DRG neurons in neuropathic rats. Compared to sham rats, IC50 values for resting and inactivated Na currents were 113 and 74 times lower in injured and uninjured neurons of L4-6 DRGs in spared nerve injury (SNI) rats (4.55 and 0.56 nM) and were 688 and 518 times lower in the uninjured L4 and L6 DRG neurons of L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5-SNL) rats. The use-dependent blockage of BLA on Na currents was more potent in neuropathic rats compared to sham rats. Bulleyaconitine A facilitated the inactivation of Na channels in each group. IC50 values for resting and inactivated tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) channels were 1855 and 1843 times lower than those for TTX-resistant channels in the uninjured neurons of L5 spinal nerve ligation rats. The upregulation of protein kinase C was associated with the preferable effect of BLA on TTX-S Na channels in the uninjured DRG neurons. Local application of BLA onto L4-6 DRGs at 0.1 to 10 nM dose-dependently alleviated the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in L5 spinal nerve ligation model. Thus, preferable blockage of TTX-S Na channels in uninjured DRG neurons may contribute to BLA's antineuropathic pain effect.

Increasing evidence supports that activation of store‐operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is implicated in the chemoresistance of cancer cells subjected to chemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance are not well understood. In this study, we aim to investigate whether 5‐FU induces hepatocarcinoma cell death through regulating Ca2+‐dependent autophagy. [Ca2+]i was measured using fura2/AM dye. Protein expression was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. We found that 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) induced autophagic cell death in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Orai1 expression was obviously elevated in hepatocarcinoma tissues. 5‐FU treatment decreased SOCE and Orai1 expressions, but had no effects on Stim1 and TRPC1 expressions. Knockdown of Orai1 or pharmacological inhibition of SOCE enhanced 5‐FU‐induced inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and potentiated 5‐FU‐activated autophagic cell death. On the contrary, ectopic overexpression of Orai1 antagonizes 5‐FU‐induced autophagy and cell death. Our findings provide convincing evidence to show that Orai1 expression is increased in hepatocarcinoma tissues. 5‐FU can induce autophagic cell death in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells through inhibition of SOCE via decreasing Orai1 expression. These findings suggest that Orai1 expression is a predictor of 5‐FU sensitivity for hepatocarcinoma treatment and blockade of Orai1‐mediated Ca2+ entry may be a promising strategy to sensitize hepatocarcinoma cells to 5‐FU treatment.

Bulleyaconitine A, a diterpenoid alkaloid isolated from Aconitum bulleyanum plants, has been used for the treatment of chronic pain in China since 1985. Clinical studies show that the oral administration of bulleyaconitine A is effective for treating different kinds of chronic pain, including back pain, joint pain, and neuropathic pain with minimal side effect in human patients. The experimental studies have revealed that bulleyaconitine A at therapeutic doses potently inhibits the peripheral sensitization and central sensitization that underlie chronic pain and has no effect on acute pain. Bulleyaconitine A preferably blocks tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons by inhibition of protein kinase C, and the effect is around 600 times more potent in neuropathic animals than in naive ones. Bulleyaconitine A at 5 nM inhibits the hypersensitivity of dorsal root ganglion neurons in neuropathic rats but has no effect on excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons in sham group. Bulleyaconitine A inhibits long-term potentiation at C-fiber synapses in spinal dorsal horn, a synaptic model of pathological pain, preferably in neuropathic pain rats over naive rats. The following mechanisms may underlie the selective effect of bulleyaconitine A on chronic pain. (1) In neuropathic conditions, protein kinase C and voltage-gated sodium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons are upregulated, which enhances bulleyaconitine A's effect. (2) Bulleyaconitine A use-dependently blocks voltage-gated sodium channels and therefore inhibits the ectopic discharges that are important for neuropathic pain. (3) Bulleyaconitine A is shown to inhibit neuropathic pain by the modulation of spinal microglia, which are involved in the chronic pain but not in acute (nociceptive) pain. Moreover, bulleyaconitine A facilitates the anesthetic effect of morphine and inhibits morphine tolerance in rats. Together, bulleyaconitine A is able to inhibit chronic pain by targeting at multiple molecules. Further clinical and experimental studies are needed for evaluating the efficacy of bulleyaconitine A in different forms of chronic pain in patients and for exploring the underlying mechanisms.

Background Oral administration of Bulleyaconitine A, an extracted diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum bulleyanum plants, is effective for treating chronic pain in rats and in human patients, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Results As the hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons resulting from the upregulation of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels has been proved critical for development of chronic pain, we tested the effects of Bulleyaconitine A on Nav channels in rat spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain. We found that Bulleyaconitine A at 5 nM increased the threshold of action potentials and reduced the firing rate of dorsal root ganglion neurons in spared nerve injury rats but not in sham rats. Bulleyaconitine A preferably blocked tetrodotoxin-sensitive Nav channels over tetrodotoxin-resistant ones in dorsal root ganglion neurons of spared nerve injury rats. Bulleyaconitine A was more potent for blocking Nav1.3 and Nav1.7 than Nav1.8 in cell lines. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for resting Nav1.3, Nav1.7, and Nav1.8 were 995.6 ± 139.1 nM, 125.7 ± 18.6 nM, and 151.2 ± 15.4 μM, respectively, which were much higher than those for inactivated Nav1.3 (20.3 ± 3.4 pM), Nav1.7 (132.9 ± 25.5 pM), and Nav1.8 (18.0 ± 2.5 μM). The most profound use-dependent blocking effect of Bulleyaconitine A was observed on Nav1.7, less on Nav1.3, and least on Nav1.8 at IC50 concentrations. Bulleyaconitine A facilitated the inactivation of Nav channels in each subtype. Conclusions Preferably blocking tetrodotoxin-sensitive Nav1.7 and Nav1.3 in dorsal root ganglion neurons may contribute to Bulleyaconitine A's antineuropathic pain effect.

Background Previous work has demonstrated that the volume-regulated chloride channel is activated during foam cell formation, and inhibition of chloride movement prevents intracellular lipid accumulation. However, the mechanism explaining how chloride movement promotes foam cell formation is not clear. Methods and results Foam cell formation was determined by Oil Red O staining. Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation were used to examine protein expression and protein-protein interaction. [Cl(-)]iwas measured using 6-methoxy-N-ethylquinolinium iodide dye. The results showed that [Cl(-)]iwas decreased in monocytes/macrophages from patients with hypercholesterolemia and from apoE(-/-)mice fed with a high-fat diet. Lowering [Cl(-)]iupregulated scavenger receptor A (SR-A) expression, increased the binding and uptake of oxLDL, enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and subsequently accelerated foam cell formation in macrophages from humans and mice. In addition, low Cl(-)solution stimulated the activation of JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Inhibition of JNK and p38 blocked Cl(-)reduced medium-induced SR-A expression and lipid accumulation. In contrast, reduction of [Cl(-)]ipromoted the interaction of SR-A with caveolin-1, thus facilitating caveolin-1-dependent SR-A endocytosis. Moreover, disruption of caveolae attenuated SR-A internalization, JNK and p38 activation, and ultimately prevented SR-A expression and foam cell formation stimulated by low Cl(-)medium. Conclusions This data provide strong evidence that reduction of [Cl(-)]iis a critical contributor to intracellular lipid accumulation, suggesting that modulation of [Cl(-)]iis a novel avenue to prevent foam cell formation and atherosclerosis.

Treatment of neuropathic pain with opioid analgesics remains controversial and a major concern is the risk of addiction. Here, we investigated this issue with spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain in rats and mice. SNI prevented conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by low dose (3.5 mg/kg) of morphine (MOR), which was effective for anti-allodynia, but not by high dose (⩾5.0 mg/kg) of MOR. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was upregulated in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) following SNI. The inhibitory effect of SNI on MOR-induced CPP was blocked by either genetic deletion of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or microinjection of anti-TNF-α into the NAcc and was mimicked by intra-NAcc injection of TNF-α in sham rats. Furthermore, SNI reduced dopamine (DA) level and upregulated dopamine transporter (DAT) in the NAcc, but did not affect total tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or phospho-TH ( p -TH), a rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis, in ventral tegmental area (VTA). Accordingly, the increase in DA reuptake but not decrease in its synthesis may lead to the reduction of DA level. Finally, the upregulation of DAT in the NAcc of SNI animals was again blocked by either genetic deletion of TNFR1 or NAcc injection of anti-TNF-α, and was mimicked by NAcc injection of TNF-α in sham animals. Thus, our data provided novel evidence that upregulation of TNF-α in NAcc may attenuate MOR-induced rewarding by upregulation of DAT in NAcc under neuropathic pain condition.

Bortezomib (BTZ) is a frequently used chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma and hematological neoplasms. The mechanism by which the administration of BTZ leads to painful peripheral neuropathy remains unclear. In the present study, we first determined that the administration of BTZ upregulated the expression of TNF-α and phosphorylated JNK1/2 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rat. Furthermore, the TNF-α synthesis inhibitor thalidomide significantly blocked the activation of both isoforms JNK1 and JNK2 in the DRG and attenuated mechanical allodynia following BTZ treatment. Knockout of the expression of TNF-α receptor TNFR1 (TNFR1 KO mice) or TNFR2 (TNFR2 KO mice) inhibited JNK1 and JNK2 activation and decreased mechanical allodynia induced by BTZ. These results suggest that upregulated TNF-α expression may activate JNK signaling via TNFR1 or TNFR2 to mediate mechanical allodynia following BTZ treatment.

Clinical studies show that chronic pain is accompanied by memory deficits and reduction in hippocampal volume. Experimental studies show that spared nerve injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve induces long-term potentiation (LTP) at C-fiber synapses in spinal dorsal horn, but impairs LTP in the hippocampus. The opposite changes may contribute to neuropathic pain and memory deficits, respectively. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the functional synaptic changes are unclear. Here, we show that the dendrite lengths and spine densities are reduced significantly in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, but increased in spinal neurokinin-1-positive neurons in mice after SNI, indicating that the excitatory synaptic connectivity is reduced in hippocampus but enhanced in spinal dorsal horn in this neuropathic pain model. Mechanistically, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is upregulated in bilateral hippocampus and in ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn, whereas brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is decreased in the hippocampus but increased in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn after SNI. Importantly, the SNI-induced opposite changes in synaptic connectivity and BDNF expression are prevented by genetic deletion of TNF receptor 1in vivoand are mimicked by TNF-α in cultured slices. Furthermore, SNI activated microglia in both spinal dorsal horn and hippocampus; pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of microglia prevented the region-dependent synaptic changes, neuropathic pain, and memory deficits induced by SNI. The data suggest that neuropathic pain involves different structural synaptic alterations in spinal and hippocampal neurons that are mediated by overproduction of TNF-α and microglial activation and may underlie chronic pain and memory deficits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTChronic pain is often accompanied by memory deficits. Previous studies have shown that peripheral nerve injury produces both neuropathic pain and memory deficits and induces long-term potentiation (LTP) at C-fiber synapses in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) but inhibits LTP in hippocampus. The opposite changes in synaptic plasticity may contribute to chronic pain and memory deficits, respectively. However, the structural and molecular bases of these alterations of synaptic plasticity are unclear. Here, we show that the complexity of excitatory synaptic connectivity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression are enhanced in SDH but reduced in the hippocampus in neuropathic pain and the opposite changes depend on tumor necrosis factor-alpha/tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 signaling and microglial activation. The region-dependent synaptic alterations may underlie chronic neuropathic pain and memory deficits induced by peripheral nerve injury.

Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is critical for the development of neuropathic pain. Tetraodontoxin-sensitive Nav1.3 channel, expressed at a very low level in the adult nervous system, is up-regulated in DRG neurons after peripheral nerve injury or peri-sciatic administration of rat recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha (rrTNF-α). To test if activation of p38 MAPK and JNK is required for the re-expression of Nav1.3 channel in cultured adult rat DRG neurons, we administrated rrTNF to cultured adult rat DRG neurons to induce Nav1.3 re-expression, and pre-treated with p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580 at 2.65, 26.5 and 265 μM) or JNK inhibitor (SP600125 at 1, 10 and 100 μM) 2 h before rrTNF to observe changes of Nav1.3-immunoreactivity. Compared with the DMSO vehicle pre-treatment group, SB203580 at 2.65 μM partially blocked the re-expression of Nav1.3 (P

The ectopic discharges observed in uninjured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following various lesions of spinal nerves have been attributed to functional alterations of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). Such mechanisms may be important for the development of neuropathic pain. However, the pathophysiology underlying the functional modulation of VGSCs following nerve injury is largely unknown. Here, we studied this issue with use of a selective lumbar 5 ventral root transection (L5-VRT) model, in which dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons remain intact. We found that the L5-VRT increased the current densities of TTX-sensitive Na channels as well as currents in Nav1.8, but not Nav1.9 channels in uninjured DRG neurons. The thresholds of action potentials decreased and firing rates increased in DRG neurons following L5-VRT. As we found that levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) increased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in DRG tissue after L5-VRT, we tested whether the increased TNF-α might result in the changes in sodium channels. Indeed, recombinant rat TNF (rrTNF) enhanced the current densities of TTX-S and Nav1.8 in cultured DRG neurons dose-dependently. Furthermore, genetic deletion of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR-1) in mice attenuated the mechanical allodynia and prevented the increase in sodium currents in DRG neurons induced by L5-VRT. These data suggest that the increase in sodium currents in uninjured DRG neurons following nerve injury might be mediated by over-production of TNF-α.

A large body of evidence has demonstrated that the ectopic discharges of action potentials in primary afferents, resulted from the abnormal expression of voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following peripheral nerve injury are important for the development of neuropathic pain. However, how nerve injury affects the expression of VGSCs is largely unknown. Here, we reported that selective injury of motor fibers by L5 ventral root transection (L5-VRT) up-regulated Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 at both mRNA and protein level and increased current densities of TTX-S and TTX-R channels in DRG neurons, suggesting that nerve injury may up-regulate functional VGSCs in sensory neurons indirectly. As the up-regulated Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 were highly co-localized with TNF-α, we tested the hypothesis that the increased TNF-α may lead to over-expression of the sodium channels. Indeed, we found that peri-sciatic administration of recombinant rat TNF-α (rrTNF) without any nerve injury, which produced lasting mechanical allodynia, also up-regulated Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 in DRG neurons in vivo and that rrTNF enhanced the expression of Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 in cultured adult rat DRG neurons in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibition of TNF-α synthesis, which prevented neuropathic pain, strongly inhibited the up-regulation of Nav1.3 and Nav1.8. The up-regulation of the both channels following L5-VRT was significantly lower in TNF receptor 1 knockout mice than that in wild type mice. These data suggest that increased TNF-α may be responsible for up-regulation of Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 in uninjured DRG neurons following nerve injury.

Arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation is a key event in the development of hypertension associated vascular disease. Although previous studies have found that pressure itself can promote cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells, the mechanisms are not clear. Recent accumulating evidence indicate that volume-regulated chloride channel plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation induced by numerous mitogenic factors. However, whether volume-regulated chloride channel is involved in hypertension-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation remains to be determined. In this study, we found that static pressure promoted rat aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Static pressure treatment increased volume-regulated chloride currents and ClC-3 expression. Inhibition of chloride channel with pharmacological blockers or knockdown of ClC-3 with ClC-3 antisense transfection attenuated pressure-evoked cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Static pressure enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aortic smooth muscle cells. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) or apocynin pretreatment inhibited pressure-induced ROS production as well as cell proliferation. Furthermore, DPI or apocynin attenuated the pressure-induced upregulation of ClC-3 protein and hypoosmolarity-activated chloride current. Our data suggest that volume-regulated chloride channel plays a critical role in static pressure-induced cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, suggesting the therapeutic importance of volume-regulated chloride channel for treatment of hypertension attendant vascular complications.

ClC-3 chloride channel/antiporter has been demonstrated to play an important role in synaptic transmission in central nervous system. However, its expression and function in sensory neurons is poorly understood. In present work, we found that ClC-3 is expressed at high levels in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Co-immunofluorescent data showed that ClC-3 is mainly distributed in A- and C-type nociceptive neurons. ClC-3 expression in DRG is decreased in the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain. Knockdown of local ClC-3 in DRG neurons with siRNA increased mechanical sensitivity in naive rats, while overexpression of ClC-3 reversed the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli after peripheral nerve injury. In addition, genetic deletion of ClC-3 enhances mouse mechanical sensitivity but did not affect thermal and cold threshold. Restoration of ClC-3 expression in ClC-3 deficient mice reversed the mechanical sensitivity. Mechanistically, loss of ClC-3 enhanced mechanical sensitivity through increasing the excitability of DRG neurons. These data indicate that ClC-3 is an endogenous inhibitor of neuropathic pain development. Downregulation of ClC-3 by peripheral nerve injury is critical for mechanical hypersensitivity. Our findings suggest that ClC-3 is a novel therapeutic target for treating neuropathic pain.

Peripheral nerve injury often induces chronic neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve is consisted of sensory fibers and motor fibers, it is questioned injury to which type of fibers is responsible for generation of neuropathic pain? Because neuropathic pain is sensory disorder, it is generally believed that the disease should be induced by injury to sensory fibers. In recent years, however, emergent evidence shows that motor fiber injury but not sensory fiber injury is necessary and sufficient for induction of neuropathic pain. Motor fiber injury leads to neuropathic pain by upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in pain pathway.

Peripheral nerve injury often induces chronic neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve is consisted of sensory fibers and motor fibers, it is questioned injury to which type of fibers is responsible for generation of neuropathic pain? Because neuropathic pain is sensory disorder, it is generally believed that the disease should be induced by injury to sensory fibers. In recent years, however, emergent evidence shows that motor fiber injury but not sensory fiber injury is necessary and sufficient for induction of neuropathic pain. Motor fiber injury leads to neuropathic pain by upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in pain pathway.

Paclitaxel, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, often induces painful peripheral neuropathy and at present no effective drug is available for treatment of the serious side effect. Here, we tested if intragastrical application of bulleyaconitine A (BLA), which has been approved for clinical treatment of chronic pain in China since 1985, could relieve the paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain. A single dose of BLA attenuated the mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia induced by paclitaxel dose-dependently. Repetitive administration of the drug (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg, t.i.d. for 7 d) during or after paclitaxel treatment produced a long-lasting inhibitory effect on thermal hyperalgesia, but not on mechanical allodynia. In consistency with the behavioral results, in vivo electrophysiological experiments revealed that spinal synaptic transmission mediated by C-fiber but not A fiber was potentiated, and the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) at C-fiber synapses induced by the same high frequency stimulation was ~50% higher in paclitaxel-treated rats, compared to the naive rats. Spinal or intravenous application of BLA depressed the spinal LTP, dose-dependently. Furthermore, patch clamp recordings in spinal cord slices revealed that the frequency but not amplitude of both spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSCs) and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in lamina II neurons was increased in paclitaxel-treated rats, and the superfusion of BLA reduced the frequency of sEPSCs and mEPSCs in paclitaxel-treated rats but not in naive ones. Taken together, we provide novel evidence that BLA attenuates paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain and that depression of spinal LTP at C-fiber synapses via inhibiting presynaptic transmitter release may contribute to the effect.

Motor nerve injury by L5 ventral root transection (L5-VRT) initiates interleukin-6 (IL-6) up-regulation in primary afferent system contributing to neuropathic pain. However, the early upstream regulatory mechanisms of IL-6 after L5-VRT are still unknown. Here, we monitored both the activity of calpain, a calcium-dependent protease suggested as one of the earliest mediators for cytokine regulation, and the expression of IL-6 in bilateral L4–L6 dorsal root ganglias (DRGs) soon after L5-VRT. We found that the protein level of calpain-2 in DRGs, but not calpain-1 was increased transiently in the first 10 min−1 h ipsilaterally and 20 min−1 h contralaterally after L5-VRT, long before mechanical allodynia was initiated (5–15 h ipsilaterally and 15 h−1 d contralaterally). The early activation of calpain evaluated by the generation of spectrin breakdown products (SBDP) correlated well with IL-6 up-regulation in bilateral DRGs. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that almost all the calpain-2 positive neurons expressed IL-6, indicating an association between calpain-2 and IL-6. Inhibition of calpain by pre-treatment with MDL28170 (25 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated the rat mechanical allodynia and prevented the early up-regulation of IL-6 following L5-VRT. Addition of exogenous calpain-2 onto the surface of left L5 DRG triggered a temporal allodynia and increased IL-6 in bilateral DRGs simultaneously. Taken together, the early increase of calpain-2 in L5-VRT rats might be responsible for the induction of allodynia via up-regulating IL-6 in DRG neurons.

Objective: To investigate whether and how human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) treatment ameliorates endometriosis in an endometriotic rat model. Methods: Twenty-four endometriosis rats were established and were randomly divided into four groups, and then the rats were treated with 19.4, 25.8, and 51.6 IU/100 g weight/day of HCG, respectively. The control group was treated with 0.9% NaCl. After 15 days (3 estrous cycles), the ectopic lesion volume and the expression of leptin protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium were investigated. Results: After HCG treatment, the volumes of endometriotic lesions were significantly smaller than those before treatment. During endometriosis development, the expression of leptin protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium was remarkably increased. HCG administration reversed leptin upregulation in endometriotic tissues. Conclusion: HCG therapy appears to be an effective treatment for endometriosis in rats through down-regulation of leptin expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Background: Clinical studies have shown that about two-thirds of patients with chronic pain suffer from short-term memory (STM) deficits and an effective drug for treatment of the neurological disorder is lacking at present. Objective: We tested whether chronic oral application of magnesium L-threonate (MgT), which has been shown to improve memory in normal and aging animals by elevating Mg2+ in the brain, could prevent or restore the STM deficits induced by spared nerve injury (SNI), an animal model of chronic neuropathic pain. The mechanisms underlying the effect of MgT on STM deficits were also investigated. Study Design: The experiments were conducted in a random and double-blind fashion in adult male rats. MgT was administrated via drinking water at a dose of 609 mg/kg/d for 2 weeks, starting either one week before SNI (preventative group) or one week after SNI (therapeutic group), and water without the drug served as control. Methods: STM was accessed with a novel object recognition test (NORT), followed by recording of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus in vivo and the measurement of the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) with Western Blot or Immunohistochemistrical staining. α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) currents were recorded with patch clamp in CA1 neurons in acute and cultured hippocampal slices. Result: We found that chronic oral application of MgT was able to prevent and restore the deficits of STM and of LTP at CA3-CA1 synapses in the hippocampus induced by SNI. Furthermore, both preventative and therapeutic chronic oral application of MgT blocked the up-regulation of TNF-α in the hippocampus, which has been previously shown to be critical for memory deficits. SNI reduced NMDAR current and the effect was dramatically attenuated by elevating extracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]o). In cultured hippocampal slices, chronic application of recombinant rat TNF-α (rrTNF-α) for 3 days reduced NMDAR current in a concentration-dependent manner and the effect was again blocked by elevating [Mg2+]o. Limitations: We showed that oral application of MgT inhibited the over-expression of TNF-α and rescued the dysfunction of the NMDAR, but the causal relationship between them remains elusive. Conclusions: Our data suggested that oral application of MgT was able to prevent and restore the STM deficits in an animal model of chronic neuropathic pain by reversing the dysfunction of the NMDAR, and normalization of TNF-α expression may play a role in the effect. Oral application of MgT may be a simple and potent means for handling this form of memory deficit. Key words: Magnesium L-threonate, short-term memory, tumor necrosis factor-α, NMDA receptor, neuropathic pain

At present, effective drug for treatment of neuropathic pain is still lacking. Recent studies have shown that the ligands of translocator protein (TSPO, 18 kDa), a peripheral receptor for benzodiazepine, modulate inflammatory pain. Here, we report that TSPO was upregulated in astrocytes and microglia in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn of rats following L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5 SNL), lasting until the vanishing of the behavioral signs of neuropathic pain (∼50 d). Importantly, a single intrathecal injection of specific TSPO agonists Ro5-4864 or FGIN-1-27 at 7 and 21 d after L5 SNL depressed the established mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia dramatically, and the effect was abolished by pretreatment with AMG, a neurosteroid synthesis inhibitor. Mechanically, Ro5-4864 substantially inhibited spinal astrocytes but not microglia, and reduced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)in vivoandin vitro. The anti-neuroinflammatory effect was also prevented by AMG. Interestingly, TSPO expression returned to control levels or decreased substantially, when neuropathic pain healed naturally or was reversed by Ro5-4864, suggesting that the role of TSPO upregulation might be to promote recovery from the neurological disorder. Finally, the neuropathic pain and the upregulation of TSPO by L5 SNL were prevented by pharmacological blockage of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). These data suggested that TSPO might be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

The over-expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following peripheral nerve injury contributes to neuropathic pain by generation of the ectopic discharges of action potentials. However, mechanisms underlying the change in VGSCs' expression are poorly understood. Our previous work has demonstrated that the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α up-regulates VGSCs. In the present work we tested if anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which had been proven to be effective for treating neuropathic pain, had the opposite effect. Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that IL-10 receptor was localized in DRG neurons. Recombinant rat IL-10 (200 pg/ml) not only reduced the densities of TTX-sensitive and Nav1.8 currents in control DRG neurons, but also reversed the increase of the sodium currents induced by rat recombinant TNF-α (100 pg/ml), as revealed by patch-clamp recordings. Consistent with the electrophysiological results, real-time PCR and western blot revealed that IL-10 (200 pg/ml) down-regulated VGSCs in both mRNA and protein levels and reversed the up-regulation of VGSCs by TNF-α. Moreover, repetitive intrathecal administration of rrIL-10 for 3 days (4 times per day) attenuated mechanical allodynia in L5 spinal nerve ligation model and profoundly inhibited the excitability of DRG neurons. These results suggested that the down-regulation of the sodium channels in DRG neurons might contribute to the therapeutic effect of IL-10 on neuropathic pain.

Patients with chronic pain usually suffer from working memory deficits, which may decrease their intellectual ability significantly. Despite intensive clinical studies, the mechanism underlying this form of memory impairment remains elusive. In this study, we investigated this issue in the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain, a most common form of chronic pain. We found that SNI impaired working memory and short-term memory in rats and mice. To explore the potential mechanisms, we studied synaptic transmission/plasticity in hippocampus, a brain region critically involved in memory function. We found that frequency facilitation, a presynaptic form of short-term plasticity, and long-term potentiation at CA3–CA1 synapses were impaired after SNI. Structurally, density of presynaptic boutons in hippocampal CA1 synapses was reduced significantly. At the molecular level, we found that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased in cerebrospinal fluid, in hippocampal tissue and in plasma after SNI. Intracerebroventricular or intrahippocampal injection of recombinant rat TNF mimicked the effects of SNI in naive rats, whereas inhibition of TNF-α or genetic deletion of TNF receptor 1 prevented both memory deficits and synaptic dysfunction induced by SNI. As TNF-α is critical for development of neuropathic pain, we suggested that the over-production of TNF-α following peripheral nerve injury might lead to neuropathic pain and memory deficits, simultaneously.

It has been shown that following peripheral nerve injury brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) released by activated microglia contributes to neuropathic pain, but whether BDNF affects the function of microglia is still unknown. In the present work we found that spinal application of BDNF, which induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of C-fiber evoked field potentials, activated spinal microglia in naive animals, while pretreatment with microglia inhibitor minocycline blocked BDNF-induced LTP. In addition, following LTP induction by BDNF, both phosphorylated Src-family kinases (p-SFKs) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) were up-regulated only in spinal microglia but not in neurons and astrocytes, whilst spinal application of SFKs inhibitor (PP2 or SU6656) or p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) blocked BDNF-induced LTP and suppressed microglial activation. As spinal LTP at C-fiber synapses is considered to underlie neuropathic pain, we subsequently examined whether BDNF may contribute to mechanical hypersensitivity by activation of spinal microglia using spared nerve injury (SNI) model. Following SNI BDNF and TrkB receptor were up-regulated mainly in dorsal horn neurons and in activated microglia, and p-SFKs and p-p38 MAPK were increased exclusively in microglia. Intrathecal injection of BDNF scavenger TrkB-Fc starting before SNI, which prevented the behavioral sign of neuropathic pain, suppressed both microglial activation and the up-regulation of p-SFKs and p-p38 MAPK produced by SNI. Thus, the increased BDNF/TrkB signaling in spinal dorsal horn may contribute to neuropathic pain by activation of microglia following peripheral nerve injury and inhibition of SFKs or p38 MAPK may selectively inhibit microglia in spinal dorsal horn.

Activation of nucleus factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is critical for development of neuropathic pain. The underlying mechanisms, however, are largely unknown. In the present work we tested if the activation of NF-κB is required for re-expression of Nav1.3, which is important for development of neuropathic pain, in uninjured DRG neurons. We found that intrathecal injection of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a NF-κB inhibitor, completely blocked the mechanical allodynia induced by L5 ventral root transection (L5-VRT), when applied 30 min before or 8 h after operation, but at 7 d after L5-VRT the same manipulation had no effect on established allodynia. Pre-treatment with PDTC also prevented the re-expression of Nav1.3 induced by L5-VRT. As our previous work has shown that up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in DRG is responsible for the re-expression of Nav1.3 in uninjured DRG neurons following L5 ventral root injury, we investigated whether activation of NF-κB is essential for the up-regulation of Nav1.3 by TNF-α. Results showed that application of rat recombinant TNF-α (rrTNF) into the cultured normal adult rat DRG neurons increased the immunoreactive (IR) of Nav1.3 localized mainly around the cell membrane and pre-treatment with PDTC blocked the change dose-dependently. The data suggested that injury to ventral root might lead to neuropathic pain and the re-expression of Nav1.3 in primary sensory neurons by activation of NF-κB.

Although thiazolidinediones (TZDs) were found to be ligands for peroxisome proliferators-activated receptorγ (PPARγ), the mechanism by which TZDs exert their anticancer effect remains unclear. Furthermore, the effect of TZDs on metastatic and angiogenesis potential of cancer cells is unknown. Our results in this paper show that rosiglitazone inhibited SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells growth, caused G1 cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of rosiglitazone on SGC-7901 cancer cells were completely reversed by treatment with PPARγ antagonist GW9662. Rosiglitazone inhibited SGC-7901 cell migration, invasiveness, and the expression of MMP-2 in dose-dependent manner via PPARγ-independent manner. Rosiglitazone reduced the VEGF induced angiogenesis of HUVEC in dose-dependent manner through PPARγ-dependent pathway. Moreover, rosiglitazone did not affect the expression of VEGF by SGC-7901 cells. Our results demonstrated that by PPARγ ligand, rosiglitazone inhibited growth and invasiveness of SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells and angiogenesis in vitro via PPARγ-dependent or -independent pathway.

Grifolin, a natural biologically active substance isolated from the edible bodies of the mushroom Albatrellus confluens, has been shown to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. But the mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effects and the mechanisms of grifolin on human osteosarcoma cells. Our results demonstrated that grifolin induced concentration- and time-dependent suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in U2OS and MG63 osteosarcoma cell lines. Grifolin induced the release of cytochrome c accompanied by activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, z-VAD-fmk, a universal inhibitor of caspases, prevented caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage and inhibted grifolin-induced cell growth inhibition. Furthermore, grifolin treatment resulted in a reduction in level of phosphorylated AKT, FOXO transcription factor, and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). Knockdown of GSK3 with siRNA inhibited the apoptotic effects of grifolin. On the other hand, grifolin treatment down-regulated the expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein(IAP) in both osteosarcoma cells. Taken together, our results suggested that grifolin is able to suppress the phosphorylation of Akt and its substrates FOXO transcription factor and GSK3 in osteosarcoma cells causing the suppression of proliferation and induction of mitochondria- and caspase-dependent apoptosis.

In this study, we analyzed the mechanisms of the apoptotic effects of celecoxib on COX-2 deficient gastric cancer cell line, MGC-803. We found celecoxib treatment induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in MGC-803 cells. Celecoxib inhibited Ser473 Akt and Ser9 GSK3beta phosphorylation and induced upregulation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) expression. The effects of celecoxib on NAG-1 expression were abolished by pretreatment with GSK3beta inhibitor, SB216763. Furthermore, GSK3beta gene silencing by siRNA inhibited the celecoxib-induced NAG-1 expression. Our study demonstrated that Akt/GSK3beta/NAG-1 signal pathway may represent as the major mechanism of the COX-2-independent effects of celecoxib on gastric cancer cells.

AIM: To investigate the influence of IL-1B-511 gene polymorphism on IL-1B mRNA expression and gastric acid output in individual with or without Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection. METHODS: IL-1B mRNA expression and gastric acid secretion in 117 health volunteers were assayed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR and gastric juice assay, respectively. Pepsinogen (PG) I and II of 255 subjects (including 117 health volunteers) were also examined. RESULTS: T/T genotype individuals with H pylori infection had a more decreased PG I/II ratio. In gastric antrum mucosa, the individuals with H pylori infection had higher IL-1B expression than those without H pylori infection, but there was no obvious difference among each genotype. In gastric corpus, the individuals with H pylori infection had a significantly higher IL-1B expression than those without H pylori infection. IL-1B-511T/T genotype was markedly higher as compared with the other two genotypes. Both maximal acid output and basic acid output were similar among each genotype in IL-1B-511 gene locus, regardless of H pylori infection. CONCLUSION: IL-1B-511 T allele does not decrease gastric acid output, although it has a stimulated influence on IL-1B expression. Consequently, the pathway, through which IL-1B plays a central role in gastric cancer development, might not depend on low acid, but on the other regulation mechanisms.