Inhibition of the spinal astrocytic JNK/MCP-1 pathway activation correlates with the analgesic effects of tanshinone IIA sulfonate in neuropathic pain

Abstract

BackgroundNeuropathic pain (NP) continues to be challenging to treat due to lack of effective drugs. Accumulating evidence elucidated that glia-mediated inflammatory reactions play a pivotal role in the introduction and development of NP. Besides, activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) pathway in astrocytes has been reported to be critical for spinal astrocytic activation and neuropathic pain development after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Tanshinone IIA, a major active component of a traditional Chinese drug, Danshen, possesses potent immuno-suppressive activities. The present study was undertaken to assess whether intraperitoneal administration of tanshinone IIA sulfonate (TIIAS) has analgesic effect on SNL-induced neuropathic pain and whether the inhibition of astrocytic activation and JNK/MCP-1 pathway is involved in the analgesic effect of TIIAS.MethodsThe effects of TIIAS on SNL-induced mechanical allodynia were assessed by behavioral testing. Immunofluorescence histochemical staining was used to detect changes of spinal astrocytes and spinal pJNK expression and localization. Immunofluorescence histochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to quantify the SNL-induced spinal pJNK expression after TIIAS administration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the SNL-induced spinal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MCP-1.ResultsOur results indicated that intraperitoneal TIIAS up-regulated the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) of NP, while astrocytic activation was suppressed and accompanied by the down-regulation of IL-1β and TNF-α expression, as well as JNK phosphorylation in the spinal dorsal horn. Additionally, the release of MCP-1 was dose dependently decreased. After co-treatment with TIIAS and JNK inhibitor (SP600125), no significant increases in mechanical PWT and MCP-1 expression were observed compared with the TIIAS-treated group.ConclusionsThe present results suggest that the analgesic effects of TIIAS in neuropathic pain are mainly mediated by the down-regulation of SNL-induced astrocytic activation, which is via the inhibition of JNK/MCP-1 pathway.

Retracted: Long noncoding RNA THRIL contributes in lipopolysaccharide‐induced HK‐2 cells injury by sponging miR‐34a

“…35 Besides, it has been proven that MCP-1 is produced by astrocytes via the JNKmediated signaling pathway. 36 However, we provided evidence that the JNK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways could be activated by MCP-1. Besides, MCP-1 enhanced LPS-induced injury possible via regulating these two signaling.…”

Necrostatin-1 attenuates early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats by inhibiting necroptosis

“…Briefly, rats were placed on a cylinder and then the rotational speed was gradually accelerated from 4 to 40 rpm in 5 min. Latency to fall off in three repeated trials was recorded according to previous studies 23–25…”

Targeting the Microglial Signaling Pathways: New Insights in the Modulation of Neuropathic Pain

“…However, it is primarily expressed in astrocytes [61,125,158-160]. In 2006, Zhuang and collaborators demonstrated that a spinal injection of a JNK inhibitor, D-JNKI-1JNK, prevented mechanical allodynia in SNL-exposed animals, and this effect was correlated with astrocyte suppression [61].…”