Investigation of the mechanisms and curatives for chronic pain based on the classical glial cells' functions.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460724
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pain science
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Ohsawa Masahiro 名古屋市立大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80369173)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Yamamoto Shohei 川崎医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (90433226)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アストロサイト / 乳酸 / Rhoキナーゼ / プロテインキナーゼC / DREADD / 神経障害性疼痛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study investigated to reveal the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) in the neuropathic pain. Intrathecal (i.t.) treatment with L-lactate induced mechanical hyperalgesia. Moreover, inhibition of L-lacate release from astrocytes attenuated the mechanical hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain model of mice. Therefore, our study suggested that astrocytes are critical nervous cells in the development and/or maintenance of neuropathic pain through the L-lactate and physical contact with neurons. Neuropathic pain model showed increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) that sensitize the nociceptive transmission in the spinal cord. This phosphorylation PKC might be mediated by the different mechanisms from the release of gliotransmitter.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学