No abstract

Background: Paclitaxel, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, is usually associated with peripheral neuropathy. Paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) can be dose limiting and may have detrimental influence on patients' quality of life. However, the mechanism of PIPN remains unclear. Medicinal herbs and their formulas might offer neuronal protection with their multitarget and integrated benefits in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Siwei Jianbu decoction (J12) is a classic formula of traditional Chinese medicine which can promote blood circulation and treat diabetic nephropathy in clinical with the symptoms of weakness and pain. Methods: The effects of J12 were treated in C57BL/6 mice before injected with Paclitaxel.Behaviour studies: Measurement of mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal nociception and cold allodynia. On the last day at the end of week 6, DRGs were obtained from mice for western blot and immunohistochemical analysis containing NF-κB, p-ERK1/2 and p-SAPK/JNK protein expression. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction: mRNA expression of NF-κB, IL-1β and TNF-α was analyzed. Additionally, the blood samples collected from the eye socket of the mouse were prepared to examine the levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β using ELISA assay kits. Results: Hypersensitivity tests and pathology analysis have demonstrated that J12 could improve paclitaxel-induced peripheral pain. J12 acts by inhibiting the activation of (C-Jun N-terminal kinases) JNK, (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) ERK1/2 phosphorylation in (Mitogen-activated protein kinases) MAPK signaling pathway and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in C57BL/6 mice model, J12 also inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. Conclusion: The present study showed that J12 ameliorates paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathic pain.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting side effect caused by chemotherapy drugs, and its existence seriously affects the quality of life of patients. We first established an oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) model and then measured and evaluated mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal nociception, cold allodynia, and intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density to determine Siwei Jianbu Decoction’s role in preventing OIPN. Then, we conducted a systematic pharmacological study that revealed important roles for the MAPK signaling pathway and proinflammatory immune pathway and confirmed these roles by western blot, immunofluorescence, and qPCR. The data show that Siwei Jianbu Decoction can effectively prevent oxaliplatin-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting an increase in NF-κB expression via downregulation of p-ERK1/2 and p-p38. The present study showed that SWJB may be beneficial in preventing oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.