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Essential function of oncostatin m in nociceptive neurons of dorsal root ganglia

Yoshihiro Morikawa1, Shinobu Tamura, Ken-ichi Minehata

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, 641-8509 Japan. yoshim@wakayama-med.ac.jp

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|February 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Oncostatin M (OSM) is crucial for developing specific pain-sensing neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). OSM deficiency reduces these neurons and pain responses, highlighting OSM's essential role in pain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Oncostatin M (OSM) is an interleukin-6 family cytokine.
  • The OSM receptor beta subunit (OSMR) is expressed in specific neurons within the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental role of OSM in OSMR-positive neurons within the DRGs.
  • To determine the impact of OSM deficiency on the development and function of nociceptive neurons.

Main Methods:

  • In situ hybridization was used to analyze OSMR expression patterns during development.
  • OSMR-positive neurons, vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1)-positive neurons, and P2X3-positive neurons were quantified in OSM-deficient mice.
  • Pain responses were assessed in various acute pain models (thermal, mechanical, chemical, visceral).

Main Results:

  • OSMR-positive neurons in DRGs emerge at postnatal day 0 and mature by postnatal day 14.
  • OSM-deficient mice showed a significant decrease in small-sized VR1- and P2X3-positive neurons.
  • A reduction in OSMR-positive neurons and triple-positive (VR1/P2X3/OSMR) neurons was observed in OSM-deficient mice.
  • OSM-deficient mice exhibited significantly reduced responses to acute thermal, mechanical, chemical, and visceral pain stimuli.

Conclusions:

  • Oncostatin M plays an essential role in the development of a specific subtype of nociceptive neurons in the DRGs.
  • OSM signaling is critical for the maturation and survival of these pain-sensing neurons.
  • Targeting OSM may offer a therapeutic strategy for managing certain types of pain.

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