BDNF/p75NTR Signalling Pathway is Involved in Regulating the Developmental Process of Neuropathic Pain and Its Inflammatory Milieu in Rats

ZHU Yangjing; ZHANG Liangcheng

doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2024.18.002

Abstract：Objective To investigate the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)/p75 neurotrophin receptor(p75NTR)signalling pathway on neuropathic pain(NP)and its mechanism.Methods Each of the 30 rats was assigned a unique number,and a sequence of random numbers generated by the random numbers table was divided into two groups(15 rats in each group):the neuropathic pain model group(SNL)and the control sham operation group(Sham).After the modelling was completed,nociceptive behaviours of rats in each group were examined,pain-related behaviors were assessed including spontaneous paw withdrawal frequency,mechanical,and thermal sensitivity.Immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)were performed to detect BDNF,p75NTR signaling pathway,the marker protein for microglia,ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1),the marker protein for astrocytes,glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),and the marker protein for neurons,neuronal nuclei(NeuN),were translated and compared between groups,with parallel inter-group comparisons.Results Behavioral assessments showed significant increases in spontaneous paw withdrawal frequency and ipsilateral mechanical sensitivity in SNL rats compared to Sham rats.At the molecular level,BDNF and p75NTR expression levels were significantly elevated in SNL rats compared to Sham rats.Additionally,increased expression of microglial marker Iba1 and astrocytic marker GFAP in SNL rats.All differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).However,there was no statistically significant change in neuronal marker Neun expression between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The BDNF/p75NTR signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the development of neuropathic pain and its inflammatory environment in rats.The increased expression of BDNF and p75NTR,coupled with the activation of microglia and astrocytes,emphasizes the importance of targeting this signaling pathway for potential therapeutic interventions against neuropathic pain.