Browsing by Author "Kim, Hyun-Woo"

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    Endoplasmic reticulum stress impairment in the spinal dorsal horn of a neuropathic pain model
    (Nature Portfolio, 2015) Zhang, Enji; Yi, Min-Hee; Shin, Nara; Baek, Hyunjung; Kim, Sena; Kim, Eunjee; Kwon, Kisang; Lee, Sunyeul; Kim, Hyun-Woo; Bae, Yong Chul; Kim, Yonghyun; Kwon, O. -Yu; Lee, Won Hyung; Kim, Dong Woon; Chungnam National University; Chungnam National University Hospital; Kyungpook National University; Yanbian University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, but its role in neuropathic pain remains unclear. In this study, we examined the ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) activation in a L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced rat neuropathic pain model. SNL-induced neuropathic pain was assessed behaviorally using the CatWalk system, and histologically with microglial activation in the dorsal spinal horn. L5 SNL induced BIP upregulation in the neuron of superficial laminae of dorsal spinal horn. It also increased the level of ATF6 and intracellular localization into the nuclei in the neurons. Moreover, spliced XBP1 was also markedly elevated in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. The PERK-elF2 pathway was activated in astrocytes of the spinal dorsal horn in the SNL model. In addition, electron microscopy revealed the presence of swollen cisternae in the dorsal spinal cord after SNL. Additionally, inhibition of the ATF6 pathway by intrathecal treatment with ATF6 siRNA reduced pain behaviors and BIP expression in the dorsal horn. The results suggest that ER stress might be involved in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, a disturbance in UPR signaling may render the spinal neurons vulnerable to peripheral nerve injury or neuropathic pain stimuli.
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    TLR4-mediated autophagic impairment contributes to neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury mice
    (Biomed Central, 2018) Piao, Yibo; Gwon, Do Hyeong; Kang, Dong-Wook; Hwang, Tae Woong; Shin, Nara; Kwon, Hyeok Hee; Shin, Hyo Jung; Yin, Yuhua; Kim, Jwa-Jin; Hong, Jinpyo; Kim, Hyun-Woo; Kim, Yonghyun; Kim, Sang Ryong; Oh, Sang-Ha; Kim, Dong Woon; Chungnam National University; Chungnam National University Hospital; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Kyungpook National University
    Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state characterized by hyperalgesia, allodynia, and spontaneous pain. Accumulating evidence has indicated that the microglial Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and autophagy are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, but their relationship and role in neuropathic pain remain unclear. In this study, we examined TLR4 and its association with autophagic activity using a chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain model in wild-type (WT) and TLR4-knockout (KO) mice. The mice were assigned into four groups: WT-Contralateral (Contra), WT-Ipsilateral (Ipsi), TLR4 KO-Contra, and TLR4 KO-Ipsi. Behavioral and mechanical allodynia tests and biochemical analysis of spinal cord tissue were conducted following CCI to the sciatic nerve. Compared with the Contra group, mechanical allodynia in both the WT-and TLR4 KO-Ipsi groups was significantly increased, and a marked decrease of allodynia was observed in the TLR4 KO-Ipsi group. Although glial cells were upregulated in the WT-Ipsi group, no significant change was observed in the TLR4 KO groups. Moreover, protein expression and immunoreactive cell regulation of autophagy (Beclin 1, p62) were significantly increased in the neurons, but not microglia, of WT-Ipsi group compared with the WT-Contra group. The level of PINK1, a marker for mitophagy was increased in the neurons of WT, but not in TLR4 KO mice. Together, these results show that TLR4-mediated p62 autophagic impairment plays an important role in the occurrence and development of neuropathic pain. And what is more, microglial TLR4-mediated microglial activation might be indirectly coupled to neuronal autophage.