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pISSN 2005-9159
eISSN 2093-0569
eISSN 2093-0569
Korean J Pain 2024; 37(4): 320-331
Published online October 1, 2024 https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.24196
Copyright © The Korean Pain Society.
Anjie Xu1 
, Huili Shen2 , Shasha Mei3 , Zhongwei Wang4 , Qiuyi Xie4,5 , Huaqing Cui6 , Yunchao Chu4 , Baihe Feng7
1Department of Pain Management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 2Department of Anaesthesia and Surgery, Hebei Maternity Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China, 3Department of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, China, 4Department of Pain, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, China, 5Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China, 6Department of Anesthesiology, Dongying Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dongying, China, 7Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Correspondence to:Baihe Feng
Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110002, China
Tel: +86-024-961200, Fax: +86-024-961200, E-mail: fengbaihedr@163.com
Yunchao Chu
Department of Pain, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, No.31, Jinan Road, Dongying 257034, China
Tel: +86-0546-8810000, Fax: +86-0546-8810000, E-mail: Chuyunchaodr@163.com
Handling Editor: Ki Tae Jung
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
Received: June 17, 2024; Revised: August 15, 2024; Accepted: September 9, 2024
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain (NP) by targeting mRNAs. This study aims to analyze the regulatory function and mechanism of miR-382-5p/dual specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1) axis in NP.
Methods: We utilized rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve as the NP model. The levels of miR-382-5p and DUSP1 were reduced by intrathecal injection of lentiviral interference vectors targeting miR-382-5p and DUSP1. The mRNA levels of miR-382-5p and DUSP1 in the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) were measured by RT-qPCR assay. The pain behavior was evaluated by mechanical nociceptive sensitivity and thermal nociceptive sensitivity. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the DRGs were analyzed by ELISA assay. The targeting relationship between miR-382-5p and DUSP1 was verified by DLR assay and RIP assay.
Results: Compared to the Sham group, the CCI rats exhibited higher levels of miR-382-5p and lower levels of DUSP1. Overexpression of miR-382-5p significantly decreased DUSP1 levels. Reducing miR-382-5p levels can lower the mechanical nociceptive sensitivity and thermal nociceptive sensitivity of CCI rats and inhibit the over-activation of pro-inflammatory factors. Reduced miR-382-5p levels decreased NP in CCI rats. DUSP1 is the target of miR-382-5p, and down-regulation of DUSP1 reverses the inhibitory effect of reduced miR-382-5p levels on NP.
Conclusions: Down-regulation of miR-382-5p inhibits the over-activation of pro-inflammatory factors by targeting and regulating the expression of DUPS1, thereby alleviating NP.
Keywords: Chronic Pain, Down-Regulation, Dual-Specificity Phosphatases, Hyperalgesia, Inflammation, MicroRNAs, Neuralgia, Nociception, Pain Management, Sciatic Nerve
