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ERK MAP kinase activation in superficial spinal cord neurons induces prodynorphin and NK-1 upregulation and contributes to persistent inflammatory pain hypersensitivity.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ji, R-R; Befort, K; Brenner, GJ; Woolf, CJ
Published in: J Neurosci
January 15, 2002

Activation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase in dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord by peripheral noxious stimulation contributes to short-term pain hypersensitivity. We investigated ERK activation by peripheral inflammation and its involvement in regulating gene expression in the spinal cord and in contributing to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity. Injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into a hindpaw produced a persistent inflammation and a sustained ERK activation in neurons in the superficial layers (laminae I-IIo) of the dorsal horn. CFA also induced an upregulation of prodynorphin and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) in dorsal horn neurons, which was suppressed by intrathecal delivery of the MEK (MAP kinase kinase) inhibitor U0126. CFA-induced phospho-ERK primarily colocalized with prodynorphin and NK-1 in superficial dorsal horn neurons. Although intrathecal injection of U0126 did not affect basal pain sensitivity, it did attenuate both the establishment and maintenance of persistent inflammatory heat and mechanical hypersensitivity. Activation of the ERK pathway in a subset of nociceptive spinal neurons contributes, therefore, to persistent pain hypersensitivity, possibly via transcriptional regulation of genes, such as prodynorphin and NK-1.

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Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1529-2401

Publication Date

January 15, 2002

Volume

22

Issue

2

Start / End Page

478 / 485

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Up-Regulation
  • Substance P
  • Spinal Cord
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Protein Precursors
  • Posterior Horn Cells
  • Pain
  • Nitriles
 

Citation

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Ji, R.-R., Befort, K., Brenner, G. J., & Woolf, C. J. (2002). ERK MAP kinase activation in superficial spinal cord neurons induces prodynorphin and NK-1 upregulation and contributes to persistent inflammatory pain hypersensitivity. J Neurosci, 22(2), 478–485. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-02-00478.2002
Ji, Ru-Rong, Katia Befort, Gary J. Brenner, and Clifford J. Woolf. “ERK MAP kinase activation in superficial spinal cord neurons induces prodynorphin and NK-1 upregulation and contributes to persistent inflammatory pain hypersensitivity.J Neurosci 22, no. 2 (January 15, 2002): 478–85. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-02-00478.2002.
Ji, Ru-Rong, et al. “ERK MAP kinase activation in superficial spinal cord neurons induces prodynorphin and NK-1 upregulation and contributes to persistent inflammatory pain hypersensitivity.J Neurosci, vol. 22, no. 2, Jan. 2002, pp. 478–85. Pubmed, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-02-00478.2002.

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1529-2401

Publication Date

January 15, 2002

Volume

22

Issue

2

Start / End Page

478 / 485

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Up-Regulation
  • Substance P
  • Spinal Cord
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Protein Precursors
  • Posterior Horn Cells
  • Pain
  • Nitriles