Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients frequently show weak correlations between the magnitude of pain and inflammation suggesting that mechanisms other than overt peripheral inflammation contribute to pain in RA. We assessed changes in microglial reactivity and spinal excitability and their...

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Main Authors: Nieto, Francisco R., Clark, Anna K., Grist, John, Hathway, Gareth J., Chapman, Victoria, Malcangio, Marzia
Format: Article
Published: BioMed Central 2016
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35037/
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author Nieto, Francisco R.
Clark, Anna K.
Grist, John
Hathway, Gareth J.
Chapman, Victoria
Malcangio, Marzia
author_facet Nieto, Francisco R.
Clark, Anna K.
Grist, John
Hathway, Gareth J.
Chapman, Victoria
Malcangio, Marzia
author_sort Nieto, Francisco R.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients frequently show weak correlations between the magnitude of pain and inflammation suggesting that mechanisms other than overt peripheral inflammation contribute to pain in RA. We assessed changes in microglial reactivity and spinal excitability and their contribution to pain-like behaviour in the early stages of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Methods: Mechanically evoked hypersensitivity, spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) and hind paw swelling were evaluated in female Lewis rats before and until 13 days following collagen immunization. In the spinal dorsal horn, microgliosis was assayed using immunohistochemistry (Iba-1/p-p38) and cyto(chemo)kine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intrathecal administration of microglia-targeting drugs A-438079 (P2X7 antagonist) and LHVS (cathepsin S inhibitor) were examined upon hypersensitivity, NWRs, microgliosis andcyto(chemo)kine levels in the early phase of CIA. Results: The early phase of CIA was associated with mechanical allodynia and exaggerated mechanically evoked spinal NWRs, evident before hind paw swelling, and exacerbated with the development of swelling. Concomitant with the development of hypersensitivity was the presence of reactive spinal microgliosis and an increase of IL-1β levels in CSF (just detectable in plasma). Prolonged intrathecal administration of microglial inhibitors attenuated the development of mechanical allodynia, reduced microgliosis and attenuated IL-1β increments. Acute spinal application of either microglial inhibitor significantly diminished the sensitization of the spinal NWRs. Conclusions: Mechanical hypersensitivity in the early phase of CIA is associated with central sensitization that is dependent upon microglial-mediated release of IL-1β in the spinal cord. Blockade of these spinal events may provide pain relief in RA patients.
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spelling nottingham-350372020-05-04T17:44:35Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35037/ Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis Nieto, Francisco R. Clark, Anna K. Grist, John Hathway, Gareth J. Chapman, Victoria Malcangio, Marzia Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients frequently show weak correlations between the magnitude of pain and inflammation suggesting that mechanisms other than overt peripheral inflammation contribute to pain in RA. We assessed changes in microglial reactivity and spinal excitability and their contribution to pain-like behaviour in the early stages of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Methods: Mechanically evoked hypersensitivity, spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) and hind paw swelling were evaluated in female Lewis rats before and until 13 days following collagen immunization. In the spinal dorsal horn, microgliosis was assayed using immunohistochemistry (Iba-1/p-p38) and cyto(chemo)kine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intrathecal administration of microglia-targeting drugs A-438079 (P2X7 antagonist) and LHVS (cathepsin S inhibitor) were examined upon hypersensitivity, NWRs, microgliosis andcyto(chemo)kine levels in the early phase of CIA. Results: The early phase of CIA was associated with mechanical allodynia and exaggerated mechanically evoked spinal NWRs, evident before hind paw swelling, and exacerbated with the development of swelling. Concomitant with the development of hypersensitivity was the presence of reactive spinal microgliosis and an increase of IL-1β levels in CSF (just detectable in plasma). Prolonged intrathecal administration of microglial inhibitors attenuated the development of mechanical allodynia, reduced microgliosis and attenuated IL-1β increments. Acute spinal application of either microglial inhibitor significantly diminished the sensitization of the spinal NWRs. Conclusions: Mechanical hypersensitivity in the early phase of CIA is associated with central sensitization that is dependent upon microglial-mediated release of IL-1β in the spinal cord. Blockade of these spinal events may provide pain relief in RA patients. BioMed Central 2016-04-29 Article PeerReviewed Nieto, Francisco R., Clark, Anna K., Grist, John, Hathway, Gareth J., Chapman, Victoria and Malcangio, Marzia (2016) Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 13 . p. 96. ISSN 1742-2094 Collagen-induced arthritis ; Pain; EMG ; Microglia ; IL-1β ; Cathepsin S ; P2X7 receptor http://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-016-0556-0 doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0556-0 doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0556-0
spellingShingle Collagen-induced arthritis ; Pain; EMG ; Microglia ; IL-1β ; Cathepsin S ; P2X7 receptor
Nieto, Francisco R.
Clark, Anna K.
Grist, John
Hathway, Gareth J.
Chapman, Victoria
Malcangio, Marzia
Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title_full Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title_fullStr Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title_short Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
title_sort neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis
topic Collagen-induced arthritis ; Pain; EMG ; Microglia ; IL-1β ; Cathepsin S ; P2X7 receptor
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35037/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35037/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35037/