Thymosin Alpha-1 Inhibits Complete Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Pain and Production of Microglia-Mediated Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Spinal Cord.
10.1007/s12264-019-00346-z
- Author:
Yunlong XU
1
;
Yanjun JIANG
2
;
Lin WANG
3
;
Jiahua HUANG
4
;
Junmao WEN
5
;
Hang LV
3
;
Xiaoli WU
3
;
Chaofan WAN
3
;
Chuanxin YU
3
;
Wenjie ZHANG
3
;
Jiaying ZHAO
3
;
Yinqi ZHOU
3
;
Yongjun CHEN
6
Author Information
1. South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. yunlongxu69@outlook.com.
2. College of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
3. South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
4. The First Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
5. Graduate College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
6. South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. ychen@gzucm.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cytokine;
Microglia;
Thymosin alpha-1;
Vesicular glutamate transporter type 2;
Vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter
- From:
Neuroscience Bulletin
2019;35(4):637-648
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Activation of inflammatory responses regulates the transmission of pain pathways through an integrated network in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The immunopotentiator thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) has recently been reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions in rodents. However, how Tα1 affects inflammatory pain remains unclear. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of Tα1 attenuated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain hypersensitivity, and decreased the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in inflamed skin and the spinal cord. We found that CFA-induced peripheral inflammation evoked strong microglial activation, but the effect was reversed by Tα1. Notably, Tα1 reversed the CFA-induced up-regulation of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) and down-regulated the vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter (VGAT) in the spinal cord. Taken together, these results suggest that Tα1 plays a therapeutic role in inflammatory pain and in the modulation of microglia-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in addition to mediation of VGLUT and VGAT expression in the spinal cord.
