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Journal of Neuroinflammation
Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

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

Authors: Jun Tang, Chao Zhu, Zhi-hong Li, Xiao-yu Liu, Shu-kai Sun, Ting Zhang, Zhuo-jing Luo, Hui Zhang, Wei-yan Li

Published in: Journal of Neuroinflammation | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Neuropathic 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.

Methods

The 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.

Results

Our 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.

Conclusions

The 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.
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Metadata
Title
Inhibition of the spinal astrocytic JNK/MCP-1 pathway activation correlates with the analgesic effects of tanshinone IIA sulfonate in neuropathic pain
Authors
Jun Tang
Chao Zhu
Zhi-hong Li
Xiao-yu Liu
Shu-kai Sun
Ting Zhang
Zhuo-jing Luo
Hui Zhang
Wei-yan Li
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Neuroinflammation / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1742-2094
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-015-0279-7

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