| Project/Area Number |
20890265
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (Start-up)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
General anatomy (including Histology/Embryology)
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| Research Institution | Hyogo College of Medicine |
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Principal Investigator |
MIYOSHI Kan Hyogo College of Medicine, 医学部, 助教 (30454755)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2009
|
| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2009)
|
| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,302,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,540,000、Indirect Cost: ¥762,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2008: ¥1,742,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,340,000、Indirect Cost: ¥402,000)
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| Keywords | IL-18 / microglia / neuropathic pain / spinal cord / astrocytes / glial interaction / IL-18R / TLR4 |
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| Research Abstract |
Nerve injury induced a striking increase in IL-18 expression in the dorsal horn, and IL-18 was upregulated in hyperactive microglia. The functional inhibition of IL-18 signaling pathways suppressed injury-induced tactile allodynia and the induction of astroglial markers. Conversely, intrathecal injection of IL-18 induced behavioral, morphological, and biochemical changes similar to those observed after nerve injury. Our results indicate that IL-18-mediated microglia/astrocyte interactions in the spinal cord have a substantial role in the generation of tactile allodynia. Thus, blocking IL-18 signaling in glial cells might provide a fruitful strategy for treating neuropathic pain.
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