IL-23/IL-17A/TRPV1 axis produces mechanical pain via macrophage-sensory neuron crosstalk in female mice.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Although sex dimorphism is increasingly recognized as an important factor in pain, female-specific pain signaling is not well studied. Here we report that administration of IL-23 produces mechanical pain (mechanical allodynia) in female but not male mice, and chemotherapy-induced mechanical pain is selectively impaired in female mice lacking Il23 or Il23r. IL-23-induced pain is promoted by estrogen but suppressed by androgen, suggesting an involvement of sex hormones. IL-23 requires C-fiber nociceptors and TRPV1 to produce pain but does not directly activate nociceptor neurons. Notably, IL-23 requires IL-17A release from macrophages to evoke mechanical pain in females. Low-dose IL-17A directly activates nociceptors and induces mechanical pain only in females. Finally, deletion of estrogen receptor subunit α (ERα) in TRPV1+ nociceptors abolishes IL-23- and IL-17-induced pain in females. These findings demonstrate that the IL-23/IL-17A/TRPV1 axis regulates female-specific mechanical pain via neuro-immune interactions. Our study also reveals sex dimorphism at both immune and neuronal levels.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Luo, X; Chen, O; Wang, Z; Bang, S; Ji, J; Lee, SH; Huh, Y; Furutani, K; He, Q; Tao, X; Ko, M-C; Bortsov, A; Donnelly, CR; Chen, Y; Nackley, A; Berta, T; Ji, R-R
Published Date
- September 1, 2021
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 109 / 17
Start / End Page
- 2691 - 2706.e5
PubMed ID
- 34473953
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC8425601
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1097-4199
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.015
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States