Investigation of the effect of Netrin-1 on neuropathic pain model rats by infraorbital nerve injury

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21064
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Honjo Yuka 大阪大学, 歯学部附属病院, 医員 (90912204)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Netrin-1 / 神経障害性疼痛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neuropathic pain refers to pain caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system that is characteristically different from nociceptive pain. Moreover, neuropathic pain occurs in the maxillofacial region due to various factors and is treated using tricyclic antidepressants and nerve block therapy; however, some cases do not fully recover. Therefore, there is a need to establish an effective treatment by elucidating a novel molecular mechanism.
In this study, we focused on Netrin-1 which has been shown to be involved in neuropathic pain caused by sciatic nerve injury. We found that Netrin-1 expressed at the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) of neuropathic pain model rats by a infraorbital nerve injury. Moreover Netrin-1 expressed at neuron cells in Vc. These results suggested that Netrin-1 involved in the neuropathic pain of orofacial area.

Free Research Field

歯科麻酔学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔顔面領域の神経障害性疼痛は歯科診療でも認められる疾患で、現在行われている治療法では効果が不十分であったり、副作用や年齢の制限などがあるため、より効果的な治療法の確立が求められている。今回、脊髄損傷による神経障害性疼痛に関与していることが明らかになっているNetrin-1というタンパク質に着目し、口腔顔面領域の痛みの伝導経路が存在する延髄において、Netrin-1の存在やその発現している細胞や受容体について研究を行った。この研究により、口腔顔面領域の神経障害性疼痛についてもNetrin-1の関与が示唆され、今後さらなる研究が必要と考えられる。