Effect of c-CBL overexpression on activation of astrocytes in spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain: relationship with Kindlin-1 / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of c-CBL overexpression on activation of astrocytes in the spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain and the relationship with Kindlin-1.Methods:Eighteen clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 250-280 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), neuropathic pain group (NP group) and c-CBL overexpression group (c-CBL group). The model of neuropathic pain was developed by chronic compression of the sciatic nerve in anesthetized rats.On 1 day before operation, c-CBL overexpression vector 10 μl was intrathecally injected in group c-CBL, while blank vehicle 10 μl was intrathecally injected in S and NP groups.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured on 1 day before operation (T 0) and 1, 4 and 7 days after operation (T 1-3). The rats were sacrificed by decapitation after measurement of the pain threshold at T 3, and the spinal cord of L 4-6 was taken for determination of the expression of Kindlin-1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) (by Western blot) and co-expression of Kindlin-1 with c-CBL (by co-immunoprecipitation). Results:Compared with group S, the MWT was significantly decreased and TWL was shortened at T 2, 3 in group NP and group c-CBL, the expression of Kindlin-1, GFAP, TNF-α and IL-1β was significantly up-regulated in group NP, and the expression of c-CBL was significantly up-regulated in group c-CBL ( P<0.05). Compared with group NP, the MWT was significantly increased and TWL was prolonged at T 2, 3, the expression of Kindlin-1, GFAP, TNF-α and IL-1β was down-regulated, and the expression of c-CBL was up-regulated in group c-CBL ( P<0.05). The results of co-immunoprecipitation showed that there was a protein interaction and co-expression relationship between Kindlin-1 and c-CBL in group NP, and the co-expression of Kindlin-1 with c-CBL was enhanced in group c-CBL when compared with group NP. Conclusions:The overexpression of c-CBL can inhibit activation of astrocytes by down-regulating the expression of Kindlin-1 in the spinal cord, thus reducing inflammatory responses and relieving neuropathic pain in rats.