Targeting P2X7 receptor for the treatment of central post-stroke pain in a rodent model.

Targeting P2X7 receptor for the treatment of central post-stroke pain in a rodent model. Neurobiol Dis. 2015 Mar 30; Authors: Kuan YH, Shih HC, Tang SC, Jeng JS, Shyu BC Abstract Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in industrialized countries. Approximately 8-14% of stroke survivors suffer from central post-stroke pain (CPSP) when hemorrhagic stroke occurs in lateral thalamic regions, which severely affects their quality of life. Because the mechanisms of CPSP are not well understood, effective treatments have not been developed. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that persistent CPSP is caused by P2X7 receptor activation after brain tissue damage and subsequent elevations in inflammatory cytokines. A thalamic hemorrhagic rat model was used, characterized by thermal and mechanical allodynia that develops in the subacute to chronic phases upon CPSP onset. We found a significant increase in P2X7 expression in reactive microglia/macrophages in thalamic peri-lesion tissues at 5 weeks post-hemorrhage. Thalamic P2X7 receptors were directly involved in pain transmission and hypersensitivity. The systemic targeting of P2X7 receptors during the acute stage of hemorrhage rescued abnormal pain behaviors and neuronal activity in the thalamocingulate pathway by reducing reactive microglia/ macrophages aggregation and associated inflammatory cytokines. After CPSP onset, the targeting of interleukin-1β reversed abnormal p...
Source: Neurobiology of Disease - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Neurobiol Dis Source Type: research