慢性炎症痛引起DRG感觉神经元P2X3受体表达的改变

目的探讨脊髓背根神经节（dorsal root ganglia,DRG）P2X3受体参与大鼠足底慢性炎症痛相关的热痛觉过敏机制。方法 1）用行为学的研究方法,以大鼠右侧后脚掌注射松节油加石蜡（各占50％）0．1ml建立后脚掌慢性痛模型,用热测痛的方法测量后脚掌皮下注射松节油后的痛阈,每天1次,连续测15d。2）用免疫组织化学技术观察大鼠后脚掌慢性炎症后第2天和第7天,炎症侧脊髓背根神经节（L4—6）神经元中P2X,受体阳性细胞类型的分布变化;以及正常脊髓背根神经节（L4—6）神经元中P2X,受体阳性细胞类型的分布作为对照。结果1）炎症后大鼠后脚掌侧痛阈出现降低,在第2天痛阈达到最低,后逐渐恢复,14d后恢复正常痛阈值。2）正常大鼠P2X,主要表达于DRG的中小神经元上,炎症后DRG（L4—6）,中小型P2X,受体阳性细胞数比对照组明显增加。细胞平均面积增大。结论后脚掌慢性炎症痛可以引起大鼠对伤害性热刺激的痛觉过敏,并导致脊髓背根神经节（L4—6）神经元qbP2X3受体阳性细胞数目增加,表明P2X3在DRG的中小神经元的改变可能对松节油引起脚掌炎症痛时热痛觉过敏的形成与维持起重要作用。     

大鼠面部慢性炎症痛导致三叉神经节表达P2X3神经元表型的转变

目的研究大鼠面部慢性炎症痛与三叉神经节内表达P2X3受体亚型神经元细胞大小和表型变化之间的关系。方法参照Neumann(1996)报道的研究方法,采用大鼠面部皮下注射松节油建立慢性炎症痛模型,用热测痛的方法测定面部皮肤的痛阈值,每天一次,连续测15d。用免疫组织化学技术观察大鼠面部慢性炎症后第5d三叉神经节内感觉神经元P2X3受体的表达。采用体视学的方法测量表达P2X3神经节细胞大小及表型的变化。结果炎症侧大鼠面部痛阈值与对照组相比明显降低,在第5d达到最低值,以后逐渐恢复,第13d开始痛阈恢复正常水平。炎症侧三叉神经节内表达P2X3神经元的平均细胞表面积(721±12μm2)与对照组(616±8μm2)相比明显增大(P<0·01)。进一步观察发现表达P2X3小细胞群(<950μm2)的表面积由炎症前的537±13μm2增加到炎症后的582±15μm2(P<0·05)而且小细胞占总细胞的数量比例由炎症前的42·2±3·2%增加到炎症后的51·8±3·5%(P<0·05);而表达P2X3受体的大细胞(>950μm2)的数量比例由炎症前的6·5±1·9%增加到炎症后的12·8±2·2%(P<0·05)。结论面部慢性炎症痛时,其三叉神经节内表达P2X3受体神经元的表型可发生改变,这可能与面部痛觉过敏和触诱发痛的形成有密切关系。     

P2X3受体在感觉神经节的表达

用免疫组织化学与原位杂交研究P2X3受体在背根神经节,三叉神经节和结状神经节的分布。结果显示：1、原位杂交;在三种感觉神经节中,95%左右的神经节细胞为P2X3mRNA阳性,中、小型神经节细胞的杂交信号一般要比大型的神经节细胞强一些,2、免疫组织化学;免疫组织化学结果与原位杂交结果基本一致。此外,在各神经节内,均显示出许多P2X3免疫阳性神经纤维,在足掌表皮也显示许多P2X3免疫反应阳性纤维,结果提示：P2X3不仅参与机体的痛觉的形成,还可能参与其它感觉,如本体感觉等的形成。     

P2X_3受体在感觉神经节的表达

用免疫组织化学与原位杂交研究 P2 X3受体在背根神经节、三叉神经节和结状神经节的分布。结果显示 :1.原位杂交 :在三种感觉神经节中 ,95 %左右的神经节细胞为 P2 X3m RNA阳性 ,中、小型神经节细胞的杂交信号一般要比大型的神经节细胞强一些。 2 .免疫组织化学 :免疫组织化学结果与原位杂交结果基本一致。此外 ,在各神经节内 ,均显示出许多P2 X3免疫阳性神经纤维 ,在足掌表皮也显示许多 P2 X3免疫反应阳性纤维。结果提示 :P2 X3不仅参与机体的痛觉的形成 ,还可能参与其它感觉 ,如本体感觉等的形成     

P物质对大鼠三叉神经节神经元GABA-和5-HT-激活电流的反向调制作用

实验采用全细胞膜片钳技术观察P 物质(SP)对大鼠同一三叉神经节(TG)神经元γ-氨基丁酸激活电流(IGABA)和5-羟色胺激活电流(I5-HT)的调制作用。在受检的47 个 TG 细胞中,多数情况下可在同一细胞记录到IGABA 和 I5-HT 两种电流(63.8%,30/47)。在 30 个同时对 GABA 和 5-HT 敏感的细胞,其中 22 个细胞预加 SP(0.01 μmol/L)后,IGABA 减小(35.7 ± 6.1)%,而I5-HT 增加(65.2 ±8.7)%。此种调制作用可被SP 受体拮抗剂GR82334 及胞内透析GDP-β -S 或GF109203X 所阻断。以上结果表明:SP 受体激活后经G 蛋白耦联,通过相同的PLC-DAG-PKC 转导途径对同一感觉神经元共存的GABAA 受体和5-HT3 受体产生相反的调制效应。     

福尔马林致痛对大鼠脊髓和背根神经节的P2X3的影响

目的:探索福尔马林致痛后大鼠脊髓和背根神经节(dorsal root ganglion,DRG)的P2X3表达变化。方法:选取健康成年正常SD大鼠25只,分正常对照组和实验组;实验组为右侧足底皮下给予0.1ml 5%福尔马林,分别观察15min、30min、1h、3h后处死,采用免疫组织化学方法及图像分析技术检测脊髓腰段及L4～6背根节P2X3的表达情况。结果:与正常对照组相比,实验15min、30min、1h组脊髓后角Ⅱ层P2X3表达未见变化,实验3h组可见P2X3表达升高,但未见明显差异;实验15min、30min组DRG神经元P2X3表达未见变化,1h组开始表达上调,3h组表达明显升高,与各组相比有显著性差异。结论:福尔马林致痛能引起脊髓和背根神经节P2X3的表达上调,可能是其产生伤害性作用的机制之一。     

活体钙成像技术揭示初级感觉神经元具有“模态特异”的反应特性

<正>痛觉或伤害性感受是人类保护自身,防止损伤的一种重要功能,其中,位于背根神经节的初级感觉神经元是机体对对伤害性刺激作出反应的"第一站"。多年来,以电生理记录为主的离体或在体研究结果均显示,背根神经节中的小直径神经元(约占总数的70%)可以同时对机械、冷和热等多种形式的刺激发生反应,也就是说,小直径神经元或由其形成的C类伤害性     

中枢神经系统离子通道受体P2X7的研究进展

在ATP门控离子通道P2X受体家族中,P2X7受体由于在结构和功能上与其他(P2X1-P2X6)受体的显著差别而备受关注.P2X7受体是由3个同源亚基组成的多聚体,其C端为P2X受体家族中最长的,与其他已知蛋白没有同源性.P2X7受体具有独特的双功能性,被ATP激活后形成非选择性阳离子通道,允许钾、钠、钙等阳离子跨膜流动,而对二价阳离子表现出相对较强的选择性,在低浓度二价阳离子环境及ATP的持续刺激下,激活的P2X7受体能形成大的孔通道.P2X7受体广泛分布在血液系统、免疫系统和骨组织等多种组织器官中,通过信号转导参与细胞增殖、蛋白合成和细胞凋亡等事件.近年来在中枢神经系统中的研究发现,P2X7受体参与神经突触传递等生理过程,并在神经性退变等病理过程中发挥重要的调节作用.其中,多种假说支持它与少突胶质细胞的损伤有密切关系.     

P2X7受体与炎症性肠病北大核心CSCD

P2X7受体与炎症密切相关,且在肠道细胞广泛表达。动物实验表明,ATP/P2X7信号主要介导加重肠炎,众多细胞参与这一作用,包括巨噬细胞、树突状细胞、T细胞、肥大细胞以及肠道神经元等。也有证据表明在弓形虫引起的肠炎中,P2X7信号则发挥抑制炎症的作用,其具体机制还有待进一步研究。本文就P2X7受体与炎症性肠病(inflammatory bowel disease,IBD)的相关研究进展作一综述,希望能为P2X7受体与IBD的进一步研究提供指导和借鉴。     

低频电针对2型糖尿病神经痛大鼠DRGP2X3受体的抑制作用

目的观察低频电针(electroacupuncture,EA)对2型糖尿病神经痛(diabetic neuropathic pain,DNP)模型大鼠的痛阈以及L5背根神经节(dorsal root ganglion,DRG)的P2X3受体表达的影响。方法实验一:将50只SD大鼠随机分为对照组8只和造模组42只。造模组给予高脂高糖饮食联合小剂量链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ,35 mg/kg)腹腔注射建立大鼠DNP模型,对照组以常规饲料喂养并给予相同剂量的柠檬酸缓冲液注射。造模组中模型成功的大鼠进一步分为模型组(DNP group)与低频电针治疗组(DNP+EA group)。电针治疗选用双侧"足三里"、"昆仑"穴,频率2 Hz,强度1 m A治疗15 min,后2 m A治疗15 min,每日1次,共治疗7次。观察大鼠高脂高糖饲养0、5周的胰岛素敏感指数(insulin sensitivity index,ISI)及0、5、7周空腹血糖(fasting plasma glucose,FPG)水平变化;采用动态足底触觉仪检测大鼠高脂高糖饲养0、5、7周及电针3、5、7 d 6个时间点双后足缩腿阈(paw withdrawal thresholds,PWTs)的变化;采用免疫荧光法测定L5 DRG P2X3受体表达。实验二:将DNP造模成功的大鼠分为电针组(EA+Vehicle group)和P2X3激动剂组(EA+αβ-me ATP group)。电针干预同上。EA+αβ-me ATP group于每次电针干预前在大鼠足趾下注射αβ-me ATP(0.6μmol/L,100μL)。EA+vehicle group大鼠注射等剂量的PBS缓冲液,其余干预相同。检测机械痛阈。结果 1与对照组大鼠比较,模型组大鼠高脂高糖饲养5周后ISI均明显降低(P0.01),高脂高糖饲养7周后FPG明显升高(P0.01),说明成功建立2型糖尿病模型(造模成功率为69.04%);2PWTs:与对照组比较,模型组大鼠双侧PWTs明显降低(P0.01),说明2型DNP造模成功;与模型组比较,低频电针治疗组大鼠在治疗后各时点均出现双侧PWTs的显著增加(P0.01);而与电针组比较,P2X3激动剂组双侧PWTs均明显降低(P0.01)。3免疫荧光法检测结果显示:与对照组比较,模型组大鼠L5 DRG P2X3阳性细胞表达明显增加(P0.01);与模型组比较,低频电针治疗组大鼠L5 DRG P2X3阳性细胞表达均明显减少(P0.01)。结论低频电针能通过下调L5 DRG P2X3受体有效改善2型DNP。     

Prenatal expression of purinergic receptor P2X3 in human dorsal root ganglion

The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is consisted of neurons that relay multiple types of spinal sensory stimuli to the central nervous system. Several neuroactive molecules may be involved in sensory modulation especially pain processing at the DRG, including the purinergic receptor P2X3 and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP). P2X3 receptor has been considered a promising pharmaceutical target for the development of new pain medicine. Currently, litter is known about the expression of P2X3 in the human DRG. The present study characterized the localization of P2X3 in prenatal human DRG obtained from fetuses at 4-8 gestational months, by comparing to CGRP expression as well as binding pattern of isolectin-B4 (IB4), a marker of small DRG neurons presumably relevant to nociception. P2X3 immunoreactivity (IR) appeared in most neuron-like perikarya, with their numerical density reduced during the gestational period studied. P2X3 IR was co-labeled very commonly with IB4 binding and infrequently with CGRP IR and was not colocalized with IR for the gliocyte marker glutamine synthetase. Together, the data show an early and broad expression of P2X3 in prenatal human DRG neurons, pointing to a biological role of purinergic signaling during the development of spinal sensory system.     

Role of sodium ferulate in the nociceptive sensory facilitation of neuropathic pain injury mediated by P2X(3) receptor

Neuropathic pain usually is persistent and no effective treatment. ATP plays an important role in the initiation of pain. P2X(3) receptors are localized in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and activated by extracellular ATP. Sodium ferulate (SF) is an active principle from Chinese herbal medicine and has anti-inflammatory activities. This study observed the effects of SF on the nociceptive facilitation of the primary sensory afferent after chronic constriction injury (CCI) mediated by P2X(3) receptor. In this study, the content of ATP in DRG neurons was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). P2X(3) agonist-activated currents in DRG neurons was recorded by the whole-cell patch-clamp skill. The expression of P2X(3) mRNA in DRG neurons was analyzed by in situ hybridization. The ATP content of DRG was increased after CCI. In CCI rats treated with SF, the content of ATP in DRG neurons was reduced. SF decreased the increment of P2X(3) agonist-activated currents and P2X(3) mRNA expression in DRG neurons during CCI. SF may inhibit the initiation of pain and primary afferent sensitization mediated by P2X(3) receptor during CCI.     

Localisation of P2Y<Subscript>1</Subscript> and P2Y<Subscript>4</Subscript> receptors in dorsal root,nodose and trigeminal ganglia of the rat

The presence and distribution of P2Y (nucleotide) receptor subtypes in rat sensory neurons has been investigated. RT-PCR showed that P2Y₁, P2Y₂, P2Y₄ and P2Y₆ receptor mRNA is expressed in sensory ganglia [dorsal root ganglion (DRG), nodose ganglion (NG) and trigeminal ganglion (TG)]. The regional and cellular distribution of P2Y₁ and P2Y₄ receptor proteins in these ganglia was investigated using immunohistochemistry. P2Y₁ polyclonal antibodies stained over 80% of the sensory neurons, particularly the small-diameter (neurofilament-negative) neurons. The P2Y₄ receptor antibody stained more medium- and large- (neurofilament-positive) diameter neurons than small-diameter neurons. P2Y₁ and P2Y₄ receptor immunoreactivity (P2Y₁-IR and P2Y₄-IR) was often coexpressed with P2X₃ receptor immunoreactivity (P2X₃-IR) in subpopulations of neurons. Double immunohistochemistry showed that 73–84% of P2X₃ receptor-positive neurons also stained for the P2Y₁ receptor in DRG, TG and NG while only 25–35% also stained for the P2Y₄ receptor. Subpopulations of P2Y₁-IR neurons were coexpressed with NF200, CGRP and IB₄; most P2Y₄-IR neurons were coexpressed with NF200, while only a few neurons were coexpressed with CGRP (10–20%) or with IB₄ (1–2%). The results suggest that P2Y as well as P2X receptor subtypes contribute to purinergic signalling in sensory ganglia.     

Activation of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 evokes nociception through substance P release from primary sensory neurons

To examine mechanisms underlying substance P (SP) release from primary sensory neurons in response to activation of the non-selective cation channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), SP release from cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons was measured, using radioimmunoassay, by stimulating TRPA1 with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a TRPA1 agonist. AITC-evoked SP release occurred in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) inhibitor SB203580 significantly attenuated AITC-evoked SP release. The in vivo effect of AITC-evoked SP release from primary sensory neurons in mice was evaluated. Hind paw intraplantar injection of AITC induced nociceptive behaviors and inflammation (edema, thermal hyperalgesia). AITC-induced thermal hyperalgesia and edema were inhibited by intraplantar pre-treatment with either SB203580 or neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist CP96345. Moreover, intrathecal pre-treatment with either CP96345 or SB203580 inhibited AITC-induced nociceptive behaviors and thermal hyperalgesia. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that intraplantar AITC injection induced the phosphorylation of p38 in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons containing SP. These findings suggest that activation of TRPA1 evokes SP release from the primary sensory neurons through phosphorylation of p38, subsequent nociceptive behaviors and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the data also indicate that blocking the effects of TRPA1 activation at the periphery leads to significant antinociception.     

AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors are found in both peptidergic and non-peptidergic primary afferent neurons in the rat

Two distinct classes of nociceptive primary afferents, peptidergic and non-peptidergic, respond similarly to acute noxious stimulation; however the peptidergic afferents are more likely to play a role in inflammatory pain, while the non-peptidergic afferents may be more characteristically involved in neuropathic pain. Using multiple immunofluorescence, we determined the proportions of neurons in the rat L4 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) that co-express AMPA or NMDA glutamate receptors and markers for the peptidergic and non-peptidergic classes of primary afferents, substance P and P2X(3), respectively. The fraction of DRG neurons immunostained for the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor (40%) was significantly higher than that of DRG neurons immunostained for the GluR2/3 (27%) or the GluR4 (34%) subunits of the AMPA receptor. Of all DRG neurons double-immunostained for glutamate receptor subunits and either marker for peptidergic and non-peptidergic afferents, a significantly larger proportion expressed GluR4 than GluR2/3 or NR1 and in a significantly larger proportion of P2X(3)- than SP-positive DRG neurons. These observations support the idea that nociceptors, involved primarily in the mediation of neuropathic pain, may be presynaptically modulated by GluR4-containing AMPA receptors.     

P2Y receptors and pain transmission

It is widely accepted that the most important ATP receptors involved in pain transmission belong to the P2X₃ and P2X_2/3 subtypes, selectively expressed in small diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. However, several types of the metabotropic ATP (P2Y) receptors have also been found in primary afferent neurons; P2Y₁ and P2Y₂ receptors are typically expressed in small, nociceptive cells. Here we review the results available on the involvement of P2Y receptors in the modulation of pain transmission.     

Heterogeneity of the Functional Expression of P2X3 and P2X2/3 Receptors in the Primary Nociceptive Neurons of Rat

The properties and functional expression of the purinergic receptors in small (nociceptive) neurons acutely isolated from the DRG of rat were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. The responses of small DRG neurons to ATP exhibited diverse kinetics and could be subdivided into three types: rapid, slow and mixed kinetics responses. Their affinities to agonists allowed to identify the responsible receptors as P2X3 (fast) and heteromeric P2X2/3 (slow) subtypes. The expression of different responses dramatically varied both on the neuron-to-neuron and animal-to-animal basis. Out of 744 neurons tested 24% of cells demonstrated predominance of functional P2X2/3 receptors, 44% had mixed representation and in 32% of cells P2X3 receptors dominated. All the animals tested (110) could be subdivided into 3 groups: in 19% of animals the response of each cell to ATP was mediated by P2X2/3 receptors, both types of ATP-evoked currents were found in 58% of animals and only in 23% of the animals P2X3 receptors dominated. Our results argue with exclusive role of P2X3 receptors in purinergic signaling in primary nociceptive neurons.