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La base celular y molecular del dolor mecánico, frío e inflamatorio
Bjarke Abrahamsen1, Jing Zhao, Curtis O Asante
1Molecular Nociception Group, University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 2, 2008
Resumen
Las neuronas sensoriales que expresan el canal de sodio Nav1.8 son cruciales para detectar el dolor mecánico, frío e inflamatorio. Sin embargo, estas neuronas no son esenciales para la detección del calor o el desarrollo del dolor neuropático.
Área de la Ciencia:
- La neurociencia es la neurociencia.
- Investigación del dolor Investigación del dolor.
- Biología Molecular Biología Molecular
Sus antecedentes:
- Las vías del dolor periférico implican varias neuronas sensoriales que responden a diversos estímulos.
- El canal de sodio Nav1.8 se expresa predominantemente en neuronas sensoriales específicas involucradas en la señalización del dolor.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Investigar el papel específico de las neuronas sensoriales que expresan Nav1.8 en diferentes tipos de percepción del dolor.
- Para determinar si las neuronas que expresan Nav1.8 son esenciales para el dolor agudo, inflamatorio y neuropático.
Principales métodos:
- Utilizó toxina de difteria para eliminar selectivamente las neuronas sensoriales postmitóticas de ratón que expresan Nav1.8.8.
- Evaluó los comportamientos de dolor en respuesta a estímulos mecánicos, térmicos y fríos.
- Respuestas evaluadas al dolor después de insultos inflamatorios y lesiones nerviosas.
- Medición de la entrada central de las neuronas sensoriales electrofisiológicamente in vivo.
Principales resultados:
- Los ratones que carecían de neuronas que expresan Nav1.8 exhibían una función motora normal y respuestas al calor agudo, pero carecían de respuestas a la presión mecánica nociva y al frío.
- Estos ratones mostraron dolor aumentado abolido y comportamientos de dolor espontáneo después de insultos inflamatorios.
- La lesión nerviosa indujo una mayor sensibilidad al dolor en estos ratones, similar a los compañeros de camada de control.
- Las grabaciones electrofisiológicas confirmaron una correlación entre el comportamiento del dolor y la entrada de la neurona sensorial central.
Conclusiones:
- Las neuronas sensoriales que expresan Nav1.8 son esenciales para la sensación de dolor mecánico, frío e inflamatorio.
- Estas neuronas no son necesarias para detectar el calor nocivo agudo o para el desarrollo del dolor neuropático.
- Los hallazgos destacan la contribución específica de los canales Nav1.8 a distintas modalidades de dolor.
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