Kovács et al. examine the role of the Src family kinases Hck, Fgr, and Lyn in immune cell–mediated inflammation. Using arthritis and skin inflammation models, the authors show that mice lacking hematopoietic Hck, Fgr, and Lyn are protected from these inflammatory diseases, showing loss of myeloid cell recruitment and lack of inflammatory mediator production. Unexpectedly, the three kinases are dispensable for the intrinsic migratory ability of myeloid cells. These finding may have clinical implications in rheumatic and skin diseases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSENeutrophil elastase plays a crucial role in arthritis. Here, its potential in triggering joint inflammation and pain was assessed, and whether these effects were mediated by proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHNeutrophil elastase (5 μg) was injected into the knee joints of mice and changes in blood perfusion, leukocyte kinetics and paw withdrawal threshold were assessed. Similar experiments were performed in animals pretreated with the neutrophil elastase inhibitor sivelestat, the PAR2 antagonist GB83, the p44/42 MAPK inhibitor U0126 and in PAR2 receptor knockout (KO) mice. Neutrophil elastase activity was also evaluated in arthritic joints by fluorescent imaging and sivelestat was assessed for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. KEY RESULTSIntra-articular injection of neutrophil elastase caused an increase in blood perfusion, leukocyte kinetics and a decrease in paw withdrawal threshold. Sivelestat treatment suppressed this effect. The PAR2 antagonist GB83 reversed neutrophil elastase-induced synovitis and pain and these responses were also attenuated in PAR2 KO mice. The MAPK inhibitor U0126 also blocked neutrophil elastase-induced inflammation and pain. Active neutrophil elastase was increased in acutely inflamed knees as shown by an activatable fluorescent probe. Sivelestat appeared to reduce neutrophil elastase activity, but had only a moderate anti-inflammatory effect in this model. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONSNeutrophil elastase induced acute inflammation and pain in knee joints of mice. These changes are PAR2-dependent and appear to involve activation of a p44/42 MAPK pathway. Blocking neutrophil elastase, PAR2 and p44/42 MAPK activity can reduce inflammation and pain, suggesting their utility as therapeutic targets. DOI:10.1111/bph.13237 www.brjpharmacol.org © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society Themed Section: Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules BJP British Journal of Pharmacology LINKED ARTICLESThis article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx

BackgroundThe transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a calcium-permeable cation channel that is expressed on capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons, endothelial and inflammatory cells. It is activated by a variety of inflammatory mediators, such as methylglyoxal, formaldehyde and hydrogen sulphide. Since only few data are available about the role of TRPA1 in arthritis and related pain, we investigated its involvement in inflammation models of different mechanisms.MethodsChronic arthritis was induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), knee osteoarthritis by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) in TRPA1 knockout (KO) mice and C57Bl/6 wildtype mice. For comparison, carrageenan- and CFA-evoked acute paw and knee inflammatory changes were investigated. Thermonociception was determined on a hot plate, cold tolerance in icy water, mechanonociception by aesthesiometry, paw volume by plethysmometry, knee diameter by micrometry, weight distribution with incapacitance tester, neutrophil myeloperoxidase activity and vascular leakage by in vivo optical imaging, and histopathological alterations by semiquantitative scoring.ResultsCFA-induced chronic mechanical hypersensitivity, tibiotarsal joint swelling and histopathological alterations, as well as myeloperoxidase activity in the early phase (day 2), and vascular leakage in the later stage (day 7), were significantly reduced in TRPA1 KO mice. Heat and cold sensitivities did not change in this model. Although in TRPA1 KO animals MIA-evoked knee swelling and histopathological destruction were not altered, hypersensitivity and impaired weight bearing on the osteoarthritic limb were significantly decreased. In contrast, carrageenan- and CFA-induced acute inflammation and pain behaviours were not modified by TRPA1 deletion.ConclusionsTRPA1 has an important role in chronic arthritis/osteoarthritis and related pain behaviours in the mouse. Therefore, it might be a promising target for novel analgesic/anti-inflammatory drugs.

Neuroimmune interactions may contribute to severe pain and regional inflammatory and autonomic signs in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a posttraumatic pain disorder. Here, we investigated peripheral and central immune mechanisms in a translational passive transfer trauma mouse model of CRPS. Small plantar skin–muscle incision was performed in female C57BL/6 mice treated daily with purified serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) from patients with longstanding CRPS or healthy volunteers followed by assessment of paw edema, hyperalgesia, inflammation, and central glial activation. CRPS IgG significantly increased and prolonged swelling and induced stable hyperalgesia of the incised paw compared with IgG from healthy controls. After a short-lasting paw inflammatory response in all groups, CRPS IgG-injected mice displayed sustained, profound microglia and astrocyte activation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and pain-related brain regions, indicating central sensitization. Genetic deletion of interleukin-1 (IL-1) using IL-1αβ knockout (KO) mice and perioperative IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) blockade with the drug anakinra, but not treatment with the glucocorticoid prednisolone, prevented these changes. Anakinra treatment also reversed the established sensitization phenotype when initiated 8 days after incision. Furthermore, with the generation of an IL-1β floxed(fl/fl)mouse line, we demonstrated that CRPS IgG-induced changes are in part mediated by microglia-derived IL-1β, suggesting that both peripheral and central inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the transferred disease phenotype. These results indicate that persistent CRPS is often contributed to by autoantibodies and highlight a potential therapeutic use for clinically licensed antagonists, such as anakinra, to prevent or treat CRPS via blocking IL-1 actions.

HighlightsCapsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves are protective against autoimmune arthritis.Desensitization of these fibers increase immune cell activation and edema.Sensory denervation enhances ROS production, MMP activity and arthritic changes.Late mechanical hyperalgesia is decreased after destroying these sensory nerves.