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The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in pathological pain

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18K08878
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 55050:Anesthesiology-related
Research InstitutionNational Defense Medical College

Principal Investigator

Masanori Kawaguchi  防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 病院 麻酔科, 助教 (60614633)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 池田 健彦  防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 病院 麻酔科, 教授 (10262817)
佐藤 泰司  防衛医科大学校(医学教育部医学科進学課程及び専門課程、動物実験施設、共同利用研究施設、病院並びに防衛, 生化学, 教授 (10505267)
遠藤 昌吾  地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究部長 (60192514)
Project Period (FY) 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
KeywordsERK2 / ERK5 / ERK / 疼痛 / 中枢性感作 / ノックアウトマウス / 脊髄 / ERK1 / 炎症性疼痛 / 神経障害性疼痛
Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nervous systems are designed to become extra sensitive to afferent nociceptive stimuli under certain circumstances such as inflammation and nerve injury. Central sensitization represents enhanced pain sensitivity due to increased neural signaling within the central nervous system (CNS). Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erks) have received attention as key molecules in central sensitization. Here we show that Erk5 and Erk2 in the CNS play redundant and/or distinct roles in central sensitization, depending on the plasticity context (cell types, pain types, time, etc.). We used mice with Erk5 deletion specifically in the CNS and found that Erk5 plays important roles in central sensitization in a formalin-induced inflammatory pain model. Additionally, deletion of both Erk2 and Erk5 leads to greater attenuation of central sensitization in this model, compared to deletion of either isoform alone. These results suggest the elaborate mechanisms of Erk signaling in central sensitization.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、脊髄においてERK2またはERK5の働きを抑えると炎症性疼痛が慢性痛へ移行することを大幅に抑制できることが解った。さらにERK2とERK5の働きを同時に抑えると慢性痛への移行はほぼ完全に消失することが解った。重要なのはERK2とERK5の働きを抑えても痛覚そのものが変化するのではなく、慢性痛への移行のみが抑えられる点である。痛みは本来、生体の警報システムとして重要な役割があるため、痛覚そのものは変化しないのが望ましい。一方、慢性痛は原因である炎症が消失しても痛みだけが残るため生理的な意味を持たない疾病であり、慢性痛への移行のみを抑えることができれば画期的な治療法となる可能性がある。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (1 results) Journal Article (1 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Presentation (5 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Invited: 2 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] The University of Manchester(英国)

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 2 (Erk2) and Erk5 in the central nervous system differentially contribute to central sensitization in male mice2021

    • Author(s)
      Matsuura Fumihiro、Satoh Yasushi、Itakura Sayako、Morohashi Toru、Kawaguchi Masanori、Takahashi Tetsuya、Iwanaga Koji、Terashima Hayato、Kobayashi Yasushi、Wang Xin、Ishizuka Toshiaki、Endo Shogo、Ikeda Takehiko
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Neuroscience Research

      Volume: 99 Issue: 6 Pages: 1666-1688

    • DOI

      10.1002/jnr.24827

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 5 in spinal cord on pathological pain in mice2020

    • Author(s)
      Fumihiro Matsuura , Yasushi Satoh, Masanori Kawaguchi, Xin Wang, Shogo Endo, Takehiko Ikeda
    • Organizer
      Euroanaesthesia 2020
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 医療用ガスとしての水素ガスの可能性2019

    • Author(s)
      佐藤泰司
    • Organizer
      第66回日本麻酔科学会学術集会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] 疼痛におけるERK経路の役割2019

    • Author(s)
      佐藤泰司
    • Organizer
      第8回北関東・甲信越ペインクリニック学会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] 細胞外シグナル制御キナーゼ(ERK) 5の疼痛シグナル制御における役割2019

    • Author(s)
      松浦史博 板倉紗也子 川口慎憲 遠藤昌吾 佐藤泰司 池田健彦
    • Organizer
      第8回北関東・甲信越ペインクリニック学会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 細胞外シグナル伝達キナーゼ(ERK)5が疼痛シグナル伝達経路に及ぼす影響2019

    • Author(s)
      結城充正 渡邊智美 松浦史博 遠藤昌吾 佐藤泰司 池田健彦
    • Organizer
      第66回日本麻酔科学会学術集会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report

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Published: 2018-04-23   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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