Hong Seung-Wan, Piao Liyun, Cho Eun-Hwa, Seo Eun-Hye, Kim Seong-Hyop
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Republic of Korea.
Department of Infection and Immunology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 May 28;26(11):5181. doi: 10.3390/ijms26115181.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between microglial activity and gut microbiota composition in a rat model of neuropathic pain (NP), and to evaluate how pregabalin treatment may influence these interrelated parameters. NP was simulated in rats via ligation and transection of the sciatic nerve. After confirming NP, the rats were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. Pregabalin (10 mg/kg) and the same dose of normal saline were administered to the treatment and control groups, respectively, on scheduled days. Microglial activity, cytokine levels, and the composition of the gut microbiota (assessed by the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio) were evaluated. Pregabalin treatment significantly reduced microglial activity (which was notably lower in the treatment group than in the control group) and modulated pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. While the F/B ratio in the control group significantly increased after NP surgery, the treatment group showed an initial increase followed by a notable decrease, approaching pre-surgery levels by day 28. This finding suggests that pregabalin treatment in rats with NP ameliorates microglial activity and is associated with a beneficial shift in the gut microbiota composition.
本研究旨在探讨神经病理性疼痛（NP）大鼠模型中，小胶质细胞活性与肠道微生物群组成之间的关系，并评估普瑞巴林治疗如何影响这些相关参数。通过结扎和切断坐骨神经在大鼠中模拟NP。确认NP后，将大鼠随机分为治疗组和对照组。在预定日期，分别对治疗组和对照组给予普瑞巴林（10mg/kg）和相同剂量的生理盐水。评估小胶质细胞活性、细胞因子水平以及肠道微生物群的组成（通过厚壁菌门/拟杆菌门（F/B）比率评估）。普瑞巴林治疗显著降低了小胶质细胞活性（治疗组明显低于对照组），并调节了促炎和抗炎细胞因子水平。虽然对照组的F/B比率在NP手术后显著增加，但治疗组显示出先增加后显著下降，到第28天时接近手术前水平。这一发现表明，NP大鼠接受普瑞巴林治疗可改善小胶质细胞活性，并与肠道微生物群组成的有益转变有关。
