Relationship between spinal kindlin-1/Wnt3a signaling pathway and inflammatory response in a rat model of neuropathic pain / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between spinal kindlin-1/Wnt3a signaling pathway and inflammatory response in a rat model of neuropathic pain (NP).Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 250-280 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (SH group), NP group, kindlin-1 shRNA group (K group) and Wnt3a inhibition group (W group). NP was induced by chronic constrictive injury in anesthetized animals.At 21 days before operation, kindlin-1 shRNA adenovirus vector 10 μl was intrathecally injected in group K, and empty viral vector 10 μl was intrathecally injected in SH, NP and W groups.Wnt inhibitor IWP-2 10 μl was intrathecally injected in group W, and artificial cerebrospinal fluid 10 μl was intrathecally injected in SH, NP and K groups at 1-3 days after operation.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 1 day before operation and 4 and 7 days after operation, respectively.At the end of pain threshold measurement at 7 days after operation, the animals were sacrificed and the lumbar segments (L 4-6) of the spinal cord were obtained for determination of the contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β (IL-1β) (using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and the expression of kindlin-1 and Wnt3a (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group SH, MWT was significantly decreased, TWL was shortened at 4 and 7 days after operation, and the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in spinal cord were increased in NP, K, and W groups, the expression of kindlin-1 and Wnt3a was up-regulated in NP and W groups, and expression of Wnt3a was up-regulated in group K ( P<0.05). Compared with group NP, MWT was significantly increased and TWL was prolonged at 4 and 7 days after operation in K and W groups, the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in spinal cord were decreased, and the expression of kindlin-1 and Wnt3a was down-regulated in group K, the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in spinal cord were decreased, and the expression of Wnt3a was down-regulated in group W ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in kindlin-1 expression ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Spinal kindlin-1 regulates the inflammatory response by up-regulating the expression of Wnt3a, and it is involved in the maintenance of NP in rats.