Department of Anesthesiology.
Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience; and.
JCI Insight. 2024 May 21;9(12):e180085. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.180085.
Peripheral nerve injury-induced neuronal hyperactivity in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) participates in neuropathic pain. The calcium-activated potassium channel subfamily N member 1 (KCNN1) mediates action potential afterhyperpolarization (AHP) and gates neuronal excitability. However, the specific contribution of DRG KCNN1 to neuropathic pain is not yet clear. We report that chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the unilateral sciatic nerve or unilateral ligation of the fourth lumbar nerve produced the downregulation of Kcnn1 mRNA and KCNN1 protein in the injured DRG. This downregulation was partially attributed to a decrease in DRG estrogen-related receptor gamma (ESRRG), a transcription factor, which led to reduced binding to the Kcnn1 promoter. Rescuing this downregulation prevented CCI-induced decreases in total potassium voltage currents and AHP currents, reduced excitability in the injured DRG neurons, and alleviated CCI-induced development and maintenance of nociceptive hypersensitivities, without affecting locomotor function and acute pain. Mimicking the CCI-induced DRG KCNN1 downregulation resulted in augmented responses to mechanical, heat, and cold stimuli in naive mice. Our findings indicate that ESRRG-controlled downregulation of DRG KCNN1 is likely essential for the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Thus, KCNN1 may serve as a potential target for managing this disorder.
周围神经损伤诱导背根神经节(DRG)神经元过度兴奋参与神经病理性疼痛。钙激活钾通道亚家族 N 成员 1(KCNN1)介导动作电位后超极化(AHP)并调节神经元兴奋性。然而,DRG KCNN1 对神经病理性疼痛的具体贡献尚不清楚。我们报告单侧坐骨神经慢性缩窄性损伤(CCI)或第四腰椎神经单侧结扎导致损伤 DRG 中 Kcnn1 mRNA 和 KCNN1 蛋白下调。这种下调部分归因于转录因子 DRG 雌激素相关受体γ(ESRRG)的减少,导致与 Kcnn1 启动子的结合减少。挽救这种下调可防止 CCI 诱导的总钾电压电流和 AHP 电流减少,降低损伤 DRG 神经元的兴奋性,并减轻 CCI 诱导的伤害性感觉过敏的发展和维持,而不影响运动功能和急性疼痛。模拟 CCI 诱导的 DRG KCNN1 下调导致对机械、热和冷刺激的反应增强在未受伤的小鼠中。我们的研究结果表明,ESRRG 控制的 DRG KCNN1 下调可能是神经病理性疼痛发展和维持的关键。因此,KCNN1 可能成为治疗这种疾病的潜在靶点。
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