Purpose: The current study aims at investigating the downstream targets of spinal Annexin A10 in modulating neuropathic pain.
Materials and methods: Paw withdrawal latency and paw withdrawal threshold were measured to evaluate the pain-associated behaviour in rats. The expression of spinal Annexin A10, phosphorylated-extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 and extracellular regulated kinase were detected by western blotting. The level of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukine-1β was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
Results: Chronic constrictive injury caused pain hypersensitivity in rats, along with increased expression of spinal Annexin A10, phosphorylated-extracellular regulated kinase 1/2, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukine-1β in rats. Knockdown of spinal Annexin A10 suppressed the chronic constrictive injury-induced hyperalgesia, and inhibited the chronic constrictive injury-induced increased expression of phosphorylated-extracellular regulated kinase 1/2, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukine-1β in the spinal cord. Inhibition of spinal extracellular regulated kinase activation decreased the release of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukine-1β, but did not change the increased expression of Annexin A10 caused by chronic constrictive injury.
Conclusions: Annexin A10 contributed to the development of neuropathic pain by activating spinal extracellular regulated kinase signalling and the subsequent release of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukine-1β in the spinal cord.
Keywords: Annexin A10; ERK1/2; IL-1β; TNF-α; pain.