Activation of peripheral ephrinBs/EphBs signaling induces hyperalgesia through a MAPKs-mediated mechanism in mice

Pain. 2008 Oct 31;139(3):617-631. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2008.06.023. Epub 2008 Aug 15.

Abstract

EphBs receptors and ephrinBs ligands are present in the adult brain and peripheral tissue and play a critical role in modulating multiple aspects of physiology and pathophysiology. Ours and other studies have demonstrated that spinal ephrinBs/EphBs signaling was involved in the modulation of nociceptive information and central sensitization. However, the role of ephrinBs/EphBs signaling in peripheral sensitization is poorly understood. This study shows that intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of ephrinB1-Fc produces a dose- and time-dependent thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and the increase of spinal Fos protein expression in mice, which can be partially prevented by pre-treatment with EphB1-Fc. EphrinB1-Fc-induced hyperalgesia is accompanied with the NMDA receptor-mediated increase of expression in peripheral and spinal phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (phospho-MAPKs) including p-p38, pERK and pJNK, and also is prevented or reversed by the inhibition of peripheral and spinal MAPKs. Furthermore, in formalin inflammation pain model, pre-inhibition of EphBs receptors by the injection of EphB1-Fc reduces pain behavior, which is accompanied by the decreased expression of peripheral p-p38, pERK and pJNK. These data provide evidence that ephrinBs may act as a prominent contributor to peripheral sensitization, and demonstrate that activation of peripheral ephrinBs/EphBs system induces hyperalgesia through a MAPKs-mediated mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthracenes / pharmacology
  • Butadienes / pharmacology
  • Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology
  • Ephrin-B1 / pharmacology
  • Ephrin-B1 / physiology*
  • Foot
  • Formaldehyde / toxicity
  • Hot Temperature / adverse effects
  • Hyperalgesia / etiology
  • Hyperalgesia / physiopathology*
  • Injections, Spinal
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System* / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nitriles / pharmacology
  • Physical Stimulation / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / analysis
  • Receptors, Eph Family / agonists
  • Receptors, Eph Family / physiology*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology
  • Spinal Cord / chemistry
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Touch
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Butadienes
  • Efnb1 protein, mouse
  • Ephrin-B1
  • Nitriles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • U 0126
  • Formaldehyde
  • pyrazolanthrone
  • Dizocilpine Maleate
  • Receptors, Eph Family
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases