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Effect of betamethasone on neuropathic pain and cerebral expression of NF-kappaB and cytokines.
- Source :
-
Neuroscience letters [Neurosci Lett] 2006 Jan 30; Vol. 393 (2-3), pp. 255-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Oct 25. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Glucocorticoids have been used to treat neuropathic pain for many years, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Recent studies indicate that pathological pain states may be mediated by cytokines. We, therefore, examined the effect of betamethasone on neuropathic pain and the relationship between pain behavior and the expression of cytokines in the brain. Rats were given epidural injections of betamethasone (Diprospan) after L5 spinal nerve transection. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated on post-operative days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 with von Frey and Hargreaves tests. Cerebral expression of NF-kappaB, TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-10 was quantified using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that spinal nerve injury caused long-lasting mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in the hind paw and stimulated the expression of NF-kappaB, TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-10 in the brain. A single epidural injection of betamethasone at the time of nerve injury partially inhibited the development of neuropathic hyperalgesia and reduced the subsequent elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain, while stimulating the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. These data support our hypothesis that pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain may mediate the hyperalgesic effects of spinal nerve injury and that the long-acting anti-hyperalgesic effects of epidural glucocorticoid treatment are due to an inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and a stimulatory effect on anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the brain.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Betamethasone administration & dosage
Betamethasone analogs & derivatives
Cerebral Cortex drug effects
Cerebral Cortex pathology
Disease Models, Animal
Drug Combinations
Male
Pain etiology
Pain Measurement methods
Pain Threshold drug effects
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord Injuries complications
Time Factors
NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase
Anti-Inflammatory Agents therapeutic use
Betamethasone therapeutic use
Cerebral Cortex metabolism
Cytokines metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation drug effects
Pain drug therapy
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0304-3940
- Volume :
- 393
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neuroscience letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16253423
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2005.09.077