Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
Purinergic Signal. 2020 Dec;16(4):491-502. doi: 10.1007/s11302-020-09728-9. Epub 2020 Oct 3.
Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a troublesome diabetes complication all over the world. P2X3 receptor (P2X3R), a purinergic receptor from dorsal root ganglion (DRG), has important roles in neuropathic pain pathology and nociceptive sensations. Here, we investigated the involvement of DRG P2X3R and the effect of 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) on DNP. We monitored the rats' body weight, fasting blood glucose level, paw withdrawal thresholds, and paw withdrawal latency, and evaluated P2X3R expression in DRG. We found that P2X3R expression is upregulated on DNP, while 2 Hz EA is analgesic against DNP and suppresses P2X3R expression in DRG. To evaluate P2X3R involvement in pain modulation, we then treated the animals with A317491, a P2X3R specific antagonist, or α β-me ATP, a P2X3R agonist. We found that A317491 alleviates hyperalgesia, while α β-me ATP blocks EA's analgesic effects. Our findings indicated that 2 Hz EA alleviates DNP, possibly by suppressing P2X3R upregulation in DRG.
糖尿病性神经痛（DNP）是一种全球性的糖尿病并发症。P2X3 受体（P2X3R）是背根神经节（DRG）中的嘌呤能受体，在神经病理性疼痛病理和伤害性感受中起重要作用。在这里，我们研究了 DRG P2X3R 的参与以及 2Hz 电针（EA）对 DNP 的影响。我们监测了大鼠的体重、空腹血糖水平、足潜伏期和足潜伏期，并评估了 DRG 中的 P2X3R 表达。我们发现 P2X3R 在 DNP 时表达上调，而 2Hz EA 对 DNP 具有镇痛作用，并抑制 DRG 中的 P2X3R 表达。为了评估 P2X3R 在疼痛调节中的参与，我们用 P2X3R 特异性拮抗剂 A317491 或 P2X3R 激动剂 αβ-meATP 处理动物。我们发现 A317491 减轻了痛觉过敏，而 αβ-meATP 阻断了 EA 的镇痛作用。我们的研究结果表明，2Hz EA 缓解 DNP 可能是通过抑制 DRG 中 P2X3R 的上调。
