Treatment strategy through the bone marrow-derived microglia in neuropathic pain

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590729
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pain science
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: NIIYAMA Yukitoshi 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (90423764)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAWADA Atsushi 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 特任助教 (10551492)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 骨髄由来ミクログリア / 扁桃体 / 神経障害性疼痛 / 不安

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism of neuropathic pain-induced anxiety has not been clarified. We examined the involvement of bone marrow-derived microglia (BMDM). We prepared partial sciatic nerve ligations (PSNL) in mice that received BM transplantation from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Tg mice. BMDM increased in the central nuclei of the amygdalae (CeA) concurrent with anxiety-like behavior. BMDM highly expressed interleukin (IL)-1b and C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2). Neurons highly expressed monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in PSNL mice. Injection of a CCR2 antagonist decreased the number of BMDM, and reversed the behavior and neuropathic pain in PSNL mice. Injections of an IL-1b receptor antagonist directly reversed the behavior in the PSNL mice even though the neuropathic pain persisted. These results suggest that the recruitment of BMDM to the CeA via the MCP-1/CCR2 axis and neuron-microglia interactions might be important in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain-induced anxiety.

Free Research Field

外科系臨床医学・麻酔・蘇生学