Pain-related differential expression of NGF, GDNF, IL-6, and their receptors in human vasculitic neuropathies.
OBJECTIVE
Pain-related differential expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and their receptors were investigated in human vasculitic neuropathies.


METHODS
The mRNA levels of pain-related neurotrophic factors, NGF, GDNF and IL-6, were examined in the sural nerves of 22 painful and non-painful patients with acute necrotizing vasculitic neuropathies, together with their concomitant soluble receptors (p75, GFR(alpha)-1 and IL-6R(alpha)).


RESULTS
The mRNAs for these factors and receptors in the lesioned nerves were up-regulated to a variable extent in both groups. NGF mRNA expression was more closely correlated with that of p75 in painful neuropathy with relatively preserved large fiber density, compared with non-painful neuropathy, though the NGF mRNA level in painful neuropathy was lower than that in non-painful neuropathy. GDNF was closely associated with GFR(alpha)-1 in mRNA levels regardless of the pain state, but IL-6 was not associated with IL-6R(alpha).


CONCLUSIONS
The differential expression of neurotrophic factors and their cognate soluble receptors in human vasculitic neuropathy suggests that NGF, which was effectively transferred to sensory axons with p75, may induce pain.
Yamamoto
Masahiko
M
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550.
Ito
Yasuhiro
Y
Mitsuma
Norimasa
N
Hattori
Naoki
N
Sobue
Gen
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
C495039:GDNF protein, human; C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases