Co-occurrence of elevated arsenic and fluoride concentrations in Wuliangsu Lake: Implications for the genesis of poor-quality groundwater in the (paleo-)Huanghe (Yellow River) catchment, China.

The co-occurrence of high As and F concentrations in saline groundwater in arid and semi-arid regions has attracted considerable attention. However, the factors determining the elevated concentrations of the two elements in surface water in these regions have not been sufficiently studied, and their implications for the poor-quality of local groundwater (high levels of As, F, and salinity) are unknown. A total of 18 water samples were collected from Wuliangsu Lake, irrigation/drainage channels, and the Huanghe (i.e., Yellow River) in the Hetao Basin, China. The pH, concentrations of As and F as well as those of other major elements, and stable isotope (H and O) compositions were analyzed. The water samples had a high pH (7.85-9.01, mean 8.25) and high TDS (402-9778 mg/L, mean 1920 mg/L) values. In six of the 10 lake samples, As concentration was above 10 µg/L (maximum 69.1 µg/L) and, in one of them, F concentration was above 1.5 mg/L. Interestingly, the high As, F, and TDS values simultaneously detected in the lake water were similar to those previously reported in local groundwater, and all water samples showed a significant positive correlation between As and F concentrations (R2 = 0.96, p < 0.01), except for two samples with abnormally high Ca2+ levels. The results of stable isotope analysis and Cl/Br ratios suggested that the lake experienced strong evaporation, which is consistent with the high TDS values. Evaporative concentration is suggested as the main factor contributing to the elevated As and F concentrations in the lake water. In addition, the major ions (e.g., Na+, Cl-, HCO3-, and OH-) and pH in the lake water increased during evaporation, leading to desorption of As and F. Thus, the evaporation process, including evaporative concentration and desorption, was considered primarily responsible for the elevated As and F in the lake water. Based on the results of this study, we presume that the paleolakes in the study area have experienced intense evaporation process. As a result, As, F, and major elements accumulated in sediments (or residual lake water) and were buried in the fluvial basins; then, they were released into the groundwater through multiple (bio)hydrogeochemical processes. By combining the results of this study with those obtained from previous groundwater analyses, we propose a new hypothesis explaining the origin of elevated As and F concentrations in saline groundwater in arid and semi-arid regions.

Identification and contribution of potential sources to atmospheric lead pollution in a typical megacity: Insights from isotope analysis and the Bayesian mixing model.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) enriched with lead (Pb) has severe irreversible effects on human health. Therefore, identifying the contribution of Pb emission sources is essential for protecting the health of residents. Using the Pb isotopic tracer method, this study explored the seasonal characteristics and primary anthropogenic Pb sources for atmospheric PM in Tianjin in 2019. We calculated the contribution of Pb sources using the end-member and MixSIAR models. The results showed that Pb loaded in PM10 was more abundant in January than in July, and was strongly influenced by meteorological conditions and anthropogenic emissions. The primary Pb sources of the aerosol samples originated from coal combustion and vehicle and steel plant emissions, mainly originating from local Pb emission sources in Tianjin. The PM10-bond Pb in January was influenced by regional transportation and local sources. The MixSIAS model calculated the contribution of coal combustion as approximately 50 %. Compared with that in January, the contribution of coal combustion decreased by 9.6 % in July. Our results indicate that some of the benefits of phased-out leaded gasoline have been short-lived, whereas other industrial activities releasing Pb have increased. Furthermore, the results emphasise the practicability of the Pb isotope tracer source approach for identifying and distinguishing between different anthropogenic Pb inputs. Based on this study, scientific and effective air pollution prevention and control programs can be formulated to provide decision support for the guidance and control of air pollutant emissions.

Combining metal and sulfate isotopes measurements to identify different anthropogenic impacts on dissolved heavy metals levels in river water.

Dissolved heavy metals (DHMs) contamination has raised global concern for ecological and human health development. Weathering of sulfide-bearing ore metals can produce acidic, sulfate-rich solutions in the presence of water and oxygen (O2), and DHMs are released to deprave the river water quality. Sulfur and oxygen isotope signatures (δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4) could identify this pyrite-derived sulfate; however, it is yet not well known whether the δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4 values could limit the DHMs sources and illustrate anthropogenic impacts on DHMs along the river corridor. We tried to solve this problem through field works in the Luohe River and Yihe River, two tributaries of the Yellow River, China, where metal sulfide mine activities mostly occurred upstream, but agricultural and domestic behaviors concentrated in the lower plain reaches. In the Luohe River upper areas, δ34SSO4 values had negative correlations with concentrations of cadmium (Cd) (p < 0.01), nickel (Ni) (p < 0.05), molybdenum (Mo) (p < 0.01), uranium (U) (p < 0.01), and SO42- (p < 0.01). However, as the δ34SSO4 values increased downstream in the Luohe River, concentrations of copper (Cu) (p < 0.05), mercury (Hg) (p < 0.05), Ni (p < 0.05), and SO42- (p < 0.01) simultaneously elevated. The Bayesian Isotope Mixing Model (BIMM) results via δ34SSO4 values demonstrated 64.3%-65.3% of SO42- from acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Luohe River's upper reaches and 63.5%-67.7% in the Yihe River's upper reaches, and about 33% from sewage and industrial effluents in the Luohe River's lower reaches and 27% in Yihe River's lower reaches. Our results confirmed the different anthropogenic impacts on the DHMs concentrations in Luohe River and Yihe River and provided a robust method for DHMs sources appointment and pollution management in river systems.

Isotope evidence for temporal and spatial variations of anthropogenic sulfate input in the Yihe River during the last decade.

Pyrite oxidation and sedimentary sulfate dissolution are the primary components of riverine sulfate (SO42-) and are predominant in global SO42- flux into the ocean. However, the proportions of anthropogenic SO42- inputs have been unclear, and their tempo-spatial variations due to human activities have been unknown. Thus, field work was conducted in a spatially heterogeneous human-affected area of the Yihe River Basin (YRB) during a wet year (2010) and drought years (2017/2018). Dual sulfate isotopes (δ34S-SO42- and δ18O-SO42-) and Bayesian isotope mixing models were used to calculate the variable anthropogenic SO42- inputs and elucidate their temporal impacts on riverine SO42- flux. The results of the mixing models indicated acid mine drainage (AMD) contributions increased from 56.1% to 83.1% of upstream sulfate and slightly decreased from 46.3% to 44.0% of midstream sulfate in 2010 and 2017/2018, respectively, in the Yihe River Basin. The higher upstream contribution was due to extensive metal-sulfide-bearing mine drainage. Sewage-derived SO42- and fertilizer-derived SO42- inputs in the lower reaches had dramatically altered SO42- concentrations and δ34S-SO42- and δ18O-SO42- values. Due to climate change, the water flow discharge decreased by about 70% between 2010 and 2017/2018, but the riverine sulfate flux was reduced by only about 58%. The non-proportional increases in anthropogenic sulfate inputs led to decreases in the flow-weighted average values of δ34S-SO42- and δ18O-SO42- from 10.3‰ to 9.9‰ and from 6.1‰ to 4.4‰, respectively. These outcomes confirm that anthropogenic SO42- inputs from acid mine drainage (AMD) have increased, but sewage effluents SO42- inputs have decreased.

Source tracing of potentially toxic elements in soils around a typical coking plant in an industrial area in northern China.

Coking plants are a substantial source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil. In this study, we examined the concentration of PTEs, the soil physicochemical properties, and the Pb isotopes in the soil inside and around a coking plant in an industrial city in northern China. We analyzed the spatial distribution of PTEs and the pollution risk areas by Igeo index, the enrichment factor (EF), and the Nemerow index, and we quantitatively identified the contribution of PTE pollution sources in the soil on a small- and medium-scale (plant and work section). Our results indicated that the Hg concentration inside the plant and the Cd concentration in the agricultural land around the plant were both relatively high. A comprehensive analysis of the soil in the study area was performed using the positive matrix factorization model and Pb isotope (206/207Pb, 208/206Pb) tracing method, based on the MixSIAR model, this analysis indicated that burning coal was the main source of Pb both inside (46.8%) and outside (26.3%) the coking plant. The pollution emission sources with significant influence on the soil outside the coking plant were diesel vehicles (12.5%), gas tanks (12.4%), and coke ovens (11.5%), while the sources inside the plant were quenching sections (11.1%), atmospheric deposition (11.0%), coke oven sections (9.6%), and diesel vehicles (6.1%). The results of PTE pollution risk zoning and Pb isotope tracing indicated that pollution is more serious in the western part of the plant, which is the area where coking and gas production takes place, and the most serious pollution outside the plant is mainly distributed to the southeast. This study provides theoretical and practical data indicating the contribution of industrial enterprises to soil pollution, and will help identify pollution responsibility and the management of pollution sources.

Sulfur dynamics in forest soil profiles developed on granite under contrasting climate conditions.

Sulfur (S) dynamics in soils formed from granite remain poorly understood despite its importance as an essential plant macronutrient and component of soil organic matter. We used stable S isotope ratios to trace the sources and biogeochemical processes of S in four forest soil profiles developed on granite under contrasting climate conditions. The soil S is derived mainly from decomposing litter; no significant geogenic contribution to its content is noted as a result of the low S concentration of the granite (~ 5 µg/g). Colder/drier climate results in high organic S retention at the surface due to weak mineralization of organic S. Although warmer/wetter climate increases the S mineralization and leaching loss, SO42- adsorption is an important S retention process in the subsurface. The vertical distribution of S isotope compositions in the soil profiles across the four sites indicates (i) a downward increase in δ34S values in the upper profiles due to continuous mineralization of organic S with an occasional decrease in δ34S values in the subsurface due to dissimilatory sulfate reduction (DSR), (ii) constantly high δ34S values in the middle profiles due to the low water permeability, and (iii) a downward decrease in δ34S values in the low profiles due to increased contribution of bedrock with depth. Regardless of the variation in soil depth and climate, the total S concentration is proportional to the pedogenic Fe/Al minerals, suggesting the important role of secondary Fe/Al minerals in retaining S in soils. This study provides an integration and synthesis of controls of climatic and edaphic variables on S dynamics in forest soil profiles developed on granite.

Spatial and seasonal variations of dissolved arsenic in the Yarlung Tsangpo River, southern Tibetan Plateau.

High levels of dissolved arsenic (As) have been reported in many rivers running though the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the "Water Tower of Asia". However, the source, spatiotemporal variations, and geochemical behavior of dissolved As in these rivers remain poorly understood. In this study, hot spring, river water, and suspended particulate material samples collected from the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR) (upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River) system in 2017 and 2018 were analyzed. Spatial results shown that the upper reaches of YTR (Zone I) have comparatively high levels of dissolved As ([As]dissolved: mean 31.7 µg/L; 4.7-81.6 µg/L; n = 16), while the tributaries of the lower reaches (Zone II) have relatively low levels (mean 0.54 µg/L; 0.11-1.3 µg/L; n = 7). Seasonal results shown that the high [As]dissolved (6.1-22.4 µg/L) were found in September to June and low [As]dissolved (1.4-3.7 µg/L) were observed in July to August. Geothermal water is suspected as the main source of the elevated As levels in YTR due to the extremely high [As]dissolved in hot springs (1.13-9.76 mg/L) and abundance of geothermal systems throughout TP. However, the seasonal results suggested that weathering of As-containing rocks and minerals is also a key factor affecting the [As]dissolved in the river water in July to August (wet-season). Natural attenuation of As in main channel is dominated by dilution process due to the lower As concentrations in tributaries, but mostly occurred by both dilution and adsorption (or co-precipitation) processes in tributaries. This work highlights that the weathering process may have an important contribution to the dissolved As in the river waters in wet-season, and the geochemical behavior of As is largely transported conservatively in the main channel and relative non-conservatively in the tributaries in YTR system.

Spinal P2X7R contributes to streptozotocin-induced mechanical allodynia in mice.

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a diabetes mellitus complication. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying PDN are still poorly understood. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) plays a pivotal role in non-diabetic neuropathic pain, but little is known about its effects on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced peripheral neuropathy. Here, we explored whether spinal cord P2X7R was correlated with the generation of mechanical allodynia (MA) in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic neuropathy in mice. MA was assessed by measuring paw withdrawal thresholds and western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the protein expression levels and localization of P2X7R. STZ-induced mice expressed increased P2X7R in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord during MA. Mice injected intrathecally with a selective antagonist of P2X7R and P2X7R knockout (KO) mice both presented attenuated progression of MA. Double-immunofluorescent labeling demonstrated that P2X7R-positive cells were mostly co-expressed with Iba1 (a microglia marker). Our results suggest that P2X7R plays an important role in the development of MA and could be used as a cellular target for treating PDN.

Involvement of Interleukin-10 in Analgesia of Electroacupuncture on Incision Pain.

OBJECTIVE: Postincision pain often occurs after surgery and is an emergency to be treated in clinic. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a Chinese traditional treatment widely used to cure acute or chronic pain, but its mechanism is not clear. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a powerful anti-inflammatory cytokine that shows neuroprotective effects in inflammation and injury in the CNS. The present study attempts to reveal that IL-10 is crucial for EA analgesia on postincision pain. METHODS: A model of incision pain was established in C57BL/6J mice. The pain threshold was detected by behavioral test, and the expression of IL-10 and its receptor was detected by an immunohistochemical method. C-fiber-evoked field potentials were recorded by in vivo analysis. RESULTS: The mechanical allodynia induced by paw incision was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of EA in mice. Intrathecal injection of IL-10 neutralizing antibody (2 µg/10 µL) but not intraplantar injection (10 µg/10 µL) reversed the analgesia of EA. The upregulations of IL-10 mRNA and protein were induced by EA at 6 h and 1 d after incision, respectively. Spinal long-term potentiation (LTP), a substrate for central sensitization, was also suppressed by EA with IL-10. IL-10 recombinant protein (1 µg/10 µL, i.t.) mimicked the analgesia of EA on mechanical allodynia and inhibition on the spinal LTP. Posttreatment of EA after incision also transitorily relieved the mechanical allodynia, which can be blocked by spinal IL-10 antibody. IL-10 and its receptor, IL-10RA, are predominantly expressed in the superficial spinal astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that pretreatment of EA effectively prevented postincision pain and IL-10 in spinal astrocytes was critical for the analgesia of EA and central sensitization.

[Roles of CX3CR1 in mediation of post-incision induced mechanical pain hypersensitivity: Effects of acupuncture-combined anesthesia].

Post-incision pain often occurs after surgery and is emergent to be treated in clinic. It hinders the rehabilitation of patients and easily leads to various types of postoperative complications. Acupuncture-combined anesthesia (ACA) is the combination of traditional acupuncture and modern anesthesia, which means acupuncture is applied at acupoints with general anesthesia. It was testified that ACA strengthened the analgesic effect and reduced the occurrence of postoperative pain, but its mechanism was not clear. Numerous reports have shown that chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is involved in the development and progression of many pathological pains. The present study was aimed to reveal whether ACA played the analgesic roles in the post-incision pain by affecting CX3CR1. A model of toe incision pain was established in C57BL/6J mice. The pain threshold was detected by behavioral test, and the expression of CX3CR1 protein was detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blot. The results showed that the significant mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were induced by paw incision in the mice. Mechanical allodynia was significantly suppressed by ACA, but thermal hyperalgesia was not changed. CX3CR1 was mainly expressed in microglia in the spinal cord dorsal horn, and its protein level was significantly increased at 3 d after incision compared with that of naïve C57BL/6J mice. ACA did not affect CX3CR1 protein expression at 3 d after incision in the toe incision model mice. Paw withdrawal threshold was significantly increased at 3 d after incision in CX3CR1 knockout (KO) mice compared with that in the C57BL/6J mice. But the analgesic effect of ACA was disappeared in CX3CR1 KO mice. Accordingly, it was also blocked when neutralizing antibody of CX3CR1 was intrathecally injected (i.t.) 1 h before ACA in the C57BL/6J mice. These results suggest that CX3CR1 in microglia is involved in post-incision pain and analgesia of ACA.

Tracing nitrate sources with dual isotopes and long term monitoring of nitrogen species in the Yellow River, China.

A heavy load of nitrogenous compounds reflects nutrient loss and influences water quality in large rivers. Nitrogenous concentrations and dual isotopes of nitrate were measured to ascertain the spatial and temporal distributions of nitrate transformation in the Yellow River, the second-longest river in China. Assessment of the long-term record indicates that [NO3--N] has increased by two-fold over the past three decades. Weekly observation of ammonium over a twelve-year period revealed high concentrations and suggests impairment of water quality, particularly since 2011. The estimated total dissolved nitrogen flux was 7.2 times higher in middle reaches than that at head waters. Anthropogenic nitrogen sources become more important in lower section of the upper reaches and middle reaches because of intensive agricultural activities and urban input. Nitrate in the lower reaches was mainly derived from transportation of upstream nitrate and point sources from cities. The spatial variation of ammonium and nitrate isotopes show that nitrification is a key process governing nitrogen transformation. Riverine biological processes could potentially be responsible for the shift of nitrate isotope signature. The first step to reducing nitrogen load and improving water quality will be containment and careful management of sources from urban input, sewage waste and irrigation runoff.

Involvement of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling in spinal long term potentiation.

The long-term potentiation (LTP) of spinal C-fiber-evoked field potentials is considered as a fundamental mechanism of central sensitization in the spinal cord. Accumulating evidence has showed the contribution of spinal microglia to spinal LTP and pathological pain. As a key signaling of neurons-microglia interactions, the involvement of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling in pathological pain has also been investigated extensively. The present study examined whether CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling plays a role in spinal LTP. The results showed that 10-trains tetanic stimulation (100 Hz, 2s) of the sciatic nerve (TSS) produced a significant LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials lasting for over 3 h in the rat spinal dorsal horn. Blockade of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling with an anti-CX3CR1 neutralizing antibody (CX3CR1 AB) markedly suppressed TSS-induced LTP. Exogenous CX3CL1 significantly potentiated 3-trains TSS-induced LTP in rats. Consistently, spinal LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials was also induced by TSS (100 Hz, 1s, 4 trains) in all C57BL/6 wild type (WT) mice. However, in CX3CR1-/- mice, TSS failed to induce LTP and behavioral hypersensitivity, confirming an essential role of CX3CR1 in spinal LTP induction. Furthermore, blockade of IL-18 or IL-23, the potential downstream factors of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling, with IL-18 BP or anti-IL-23 neutralizing antibody (IL-23 AB), obviously suppressed spinal LTP in rats. These results suggest that CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling is involved in LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in the rodent spinal dorsal horn.

Dexmedetomidine inhibits Tetrodotoxin-resistant Nav1.8 sodium channel activity through Gi/o-dependent pathway in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

BACKGROUND: Systemically administered dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2 adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonists, produces analgesia and sedation. Peripherally restricted α2-AR antagonist could block the analgesic effect of systemic DEX on neuropathic pain, with no effect on sedation, indicating peripheral analgesic effect of DEX. Tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium channel Nav1.8 play important roles in the conduction of nociceptive sensation. Both α2-AR and Nav1.8 are found in small nociceptive DRG neurons. We, therefore, investigated the effects of DEX on the Nav1.8 currents in acutely dissociated small-diameter DRG neurons. RESULTS: Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that DEX concentration-dependently suppressed TTX-R Nav1.8 currents in small-diameter lumbar DRG neurons. DEX also shifted the steady-state inactivation curves of Nav1.8 in a hyperpolarizing direction and increased the threshold of action potential and decrease electrical and chemical stimuli-evoked firings in small-diameter DRG neurons. The α2-AR antagonist yohimbine or α2A-AR antagonist BRL44408 but not α2B-AR antagonist imiloxan blocked the inhibition of Nav1.8 currents by DEX. Immunohistochemistry results showed that Nav1.8 was predominantly expressed in peripherin-positive small-diameter DRG neurons, and some of them were α2A-AR-positive ones. Our electrophysiological recordings also demonstrated that DEX-induced inhibition of Nav1.8 currents was prevented by intracellular application of G-protein inhibitor GDPß-s or Gi/o proteins inhibitor pertussis toxin (PTX), and bath application of adenylate cyclase (AC) activator forskolin or membrane-permeable cAMP analogue 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP). PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMP could mimic DEX-induced inhibition of Nav1.8 currents. CONCLUSIONS: We established a functional link between α2-AR and Nav1.8 in primary sensory neurons utilizing the Gi/o/AC/cAMP/PKA pathway, which probably mediating peripheral analgesia of DEX.

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex attenuates pain-related negative emotion in rats.

The emotional components of pain are far less studied than the sensory components. Previous studies have indicated that the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) is implicated in the affective response to noxious stimuli. Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the spinal cord has been documented to play an important role in diverse kinds of pathological pain states. We used formalin-induced conditioned place aversion (F-CPA) in rats, an animal model believed to reflect the emotional response to pain, to investigate the involvement of p38 MAPK in the rACC after the induction of affective pain. Intraplantar formalin injection produced a significant activation of p38 MAPK, as well as mitogen-activated kinase kinase (MKK) 3 and MKK6, its upstream activators, in the bilateral rACC. p38 MAPK was elevated in both NeuN-positive neurons and Iba1-positive microglia in the rACC, but not GFAP-positive cells. Blocking p38 MAPK activation in the bilateral rACC using its specific inhibitor SB203580 or SB239063 dose-dependently suppressed the formation of F-CPA. Inhibiting p38 MAPK activation did not affect formalin-induced two-phase spontaneous nociceptive response and low intensity electric foot-shock induced CPA. The present study demonstrated that p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the rACC contributes to pain-related negative emotion. Thus, a new pharmacological strategy targeted at the p38 MAPK cascade may be useful in treating pain-related emotional disorders.

Involvement of RVM-expressed P2X7 receptor in bone cancer pain: mechanism of descending facilitation.

Patients with bone cancer commonly experience bone pain that is severe, intolerable, and difficult to manage. The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) plays an important role in the development of chronic pain via descending facilitation of spinal nociception. The compelling evidence shows that glial P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is involved in the induction and maintenance of chronic pain syndromes. The present study explored the mechanism of glial activation and P2X7R expression underlying the induction of bone cancer pain. The results demonstrated that microglia and astrocytes in the RVM were markedly activated in bone cancer rats, and the expression of P2X7R was significantly upregulated. Injection of Brilliant Blue G (BBG), an inhibitor of P2X7R, into the RVM significantly alleviated pain behaviors of cancer rats, which was supported by intra-RVM injection of RNA interference targeting the P2X7R in the RVM. It is suggested that activation of microglia-expressed P2X7R in the RVM contributes to bone cancer pain. Given that 5-HT in the RVM is involved in modulating spinal nociception, changes in 5-HT and Fos expression were addressed in the spinal cord. Inhibition of P2X7R by BBG or small-interference RNA targeting P2X7 in the RVM markedly reduced 5-HT level and Fos expression in the spinal cord. The data clearly suggest that the activation of microglial P2X7R in the RVM contributes to the development of bone cancer pain via upregulation of spinal 5HT levels by the descending pain facilitatory system.

SIP30 is required for neuropathic pain-evoked aversion in rats.

SIP30 (SNAP25 interacting protein of 30) is a SNAP25 interaction protein of 30 kDa that functions in neurotransmitter release. Using a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain, we profiled gene expression in the rat spinal cord and brain and identified sip30, which was upregulated after CCI. Here, we show that CCI induced a bilateral increase of SIP30 in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a key brain region that has been implicated in pain affect. We put rats in a chamber with one half painted white (light area) and the other half painted black (dark area), and measured neuropathic pain-evoked place escape/avoidance paradigm (PEAP) to quantify the level of negative emotion evoked by painful stimuli using a Von Frey hair. Inhibition of CCI-mediated induction of SIP30 by intra-rACC injection of shRNA targeting the rat sip30 gene reduced PEAP. Interestingly, knockdown of SIP30 did not affect CCI-induced evoked pain such as heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Neither did it affect general learning and memory. CCI-induced upregulation of SIP30 was correlated with activation of ERK, PKA, and CREB in the rACC. Intra-rACC administration of PKA or ERK inhibitors suppressed CCI-induced SIP30 upregulation and blocked the induction of PEAP. Additionally, knockdown of SIP30 suppressed the frequency of mEPSCs and increased paired-pulse ratios in rACC slices and decreased extracellular glutamate concentrations. Together, our results highlight SIP30 as a target of PKA and ERK in the rACC to mediate neuropathic pain-evoked negative emotion via modulation of glutamate release and excitatory synaptic transmission.

Spinal synaptic scaffolding protein Homer 1b/c regulates CREB phosphorylation and c-fos activation induced by inflammatory pain in rats.

Previous studies have shown that spinal Homer 1b/c plays an important role in the maintenance of chronic inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). This study investigated the possible mechanism underlying Homer 1b/c mediating CFA-induced inflammatory pain. Chronic inflammation was induced by CFA injection into the left hind ankle of the rat. Homer 1b/c antisense or missense oligonucleotides were administered intrathecally (10µg/10µl) from 5 to 8 days following the onset of inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect the expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) and Fos protein in the spinal dorsal horn. Intrathecal administration of Homer 1b/c antisense oligonucleotides not only markedly reduced the expression of Homer 1b/c protein, but also attenuated CFA-induced inflammation, spinal CREB phosphorylation, and Fos expression. These results demonstrate for the first time that Homer 1b/c regulates CREB phosphorylation and c-fos activation in the spinal dorsal horn during the maintenance of chronic inflammatory pain, suggesting that Homer 1b/c may be involved in the development of CFA-induced inflammation.

Up-regulation of interleukin-23 induces persistent allodynia via CX3CL1 and interleukin-18 signaling in the rat spinal cord after tetanic sciatic stimulation.

Tetanic stimulation of the sciatic nerve (TSS) induces sciatic nerve injury and long-lasting pain hypersensitivity in rats, and spinal glial activation and proinflammatory cytokines releases are involved. In the present study, we showed that spinal interleukin (IL)-23 and its receptor, IL-23R, are crucial for the development of mechanical allodynia after TSS. In the spinal dorsal horn, both IL-23 and IL-23R are expressed in astrocytes, and this expression is substantially increased after TSS. Inhibition of IL-23 signaling attenuated TSS-induced allodynia and decreased the induction of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, an astrocytic marker). Conversely, intrathecally delivered IL-23 induced a persistent allodynia. Similar to IL-23 signaling, an increase in IL-18 and its receptor, IL-18R, as well as CX3CL1 and its receptor, CX3CR1, was simultaneously observed in the spinal dorsal horn after TSS. Interestingly, IL-18 and CX3CR1 were exclusively expressed in microglia, while IL-18R was mainly localized in astrocytes. In contrast, CX3CL1 was predominately expressed in neurons and secondarily in astrocytes. The functional inhibition of CX3CL1 and IL-18 signaling attenuated TSS-induced allodynia and suppressed IL-23 and IL-23R upregulation. Activation of CX3CR1 and IL-18R induced similar behavioral and biochemical changes to those observed after TSS. These results indicate that the interaction among CX3CL1, IL-18 and IL-23 signaling in the spinal cord plays a critical role in the development of allodynia. Thus, interrupting this chemokine-cytokine network might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain.

Peripheral TGF-ß1 signaling is a critical event in bone cancer-induced hyperalgesia in rodents.

Pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer. TGF-ß, a major bone-derived growth factor, is largely released by osteoclast bone resorption during the progression of bone cancer and contributes to proliferation, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we further show that TGF-ß1 is critical for bone cancer-induced pain sensitization. We found that, after the progression of bone cancer, TGF-ß1 was highly expressed in tumor-bearing bone, and the expression of its receptors, TGFßRI and TGFßRII, was significantly increased in the DRG in a rat model of bone cancer pain that is based on intratibia inoculation of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells. The blockade of TGF-ß receptors by the TGFßRI antagonist SD-208 robustly suppressed bone cancer-induced thermal hyperalgesia on post-tumor day 14 (PTD 14). Peripheral injection of TGF-ß1 directly induced thermal hyperalgesia in intact rats and wide-type mice, but not in Trpv1(-/-) mice. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from DRG neurons showed that transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) sensitivity was significantly enhanced on PTD 14. Extracellular application of TGF-ß1 significantly potentiated TRPV1 currents and increased [Ca(2+)]i in DRG neurons. Pharmacological studies revealed that the TGF-ß1 sensitization of TRPV1 and the induction of thermal hyperalgesia required the TGF-ßR-mediated Smad-independent PKCε and TGF-ß activating kinase 1-p38 pathways. These findings suggest that TGF-ß1 signaling contributes to bone cancer pain via the upregulation and sensitization of TRPV1 in primary sensory neurons and that therapeutic targeting of TGF-ß1 may ameliorate the bone cancer pain in advanced cancer.

Estrogen in the anterior cingulate cortex contributes to pain-related aversion.

The rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) is a key structure of pain affect. Whether and how estrogen in the rACC regulates pain-related negative emotion remains unclear. Behaviorally, using formalin-induced conditioned place aversion (F-CPA) in rats, which is believed to reflect the pain-related negative emotion, we found that estrogen receptor (ER) inhibitor ICI 182, 780 (ICI, 7α,17ß-[9-[(4,4,5,5,5-Pentafluoropentyl)sulfinyl]nonyl]estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17-diol) or inhibitor of aromatase androstatrienedione into the rACC completely blocked F-CPA in either sex. An analogous effect was also observed in ovariectomy rats. Furthermore, exogenous estrogen in the absence of a formalin noxious stimulus was sufficient to elicit CPA (E-CPA) in both sexes by activating the membrane estrogen receptors (mERs) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs). Electrophysiologically, we demonstrated that estrogen acutely enhanced the glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in rACC slices by increasing the ratio of NMDA-EPSCs to α-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2- oxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid -EPSCs and presynaptic glutamate release. Interestingly, a brief exposure to estrogen elicited a persistent enhancement of NMDA-EPSCs, and this NMDA-long-term potentiation required the activation of the mERs, protein kinase A and NMDAR subunit NR2B. Finally, estrogen induced rapid dendritic spine formation in cultured rACC neurons. These results suggest that estrogen in the rACC, as a neuromodulator, drives affective pain via facilitating NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission.