title: Role of TNF-alpha but not NGF in murine hyperalgesia induced by parasitic infection.
abstract: Using adult mice infected with the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, we observed that this infection induces both thermal hyperalgesia and an increase in the levels of nerve growth factor in the paws. To explore the mechanism involved in peripheral hypersensitivity during chronic infection, mice were infected with 60 cercariae of S. mansoni and injected 17 weeks later with nerve growth factor, anti-nerve growth factor or with other molecules known to be associated with hyperalgesic processes. The results of these studies showed that antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but not against nerve growth factor, reduce thermal sensitivity in schistosome infected mice, suggesting that this cytokine but not NGF plays a crucial role in schistosome-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs support this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013373:Substance P; D007213:Indomethacin