Spinal TLR4 mediates the transition to a persistent mechanical hypersensitivity after the resolution of inflammation in serum-transferred arthritis.
Persistent pain after resolution of clinically appreciable signs of arthritis poses a therapeutic challenge, and immunosuppressive therapies do not meet this medical need. To investigate this conversion to persistent pain, we utilized the K/BxN serum transfer arthritis model, which has persistent mechanical hypersensitivity despite the resolution of visible inflammation. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 has been implicated as a potential therapeutic target in neuropathic and other pain models. We compared the relative courses of serum transfer arthritis and mechanical hypersensitivity in wild type (WT) and Tlr4(-/-) mice. K/BxN serum transfer induced similar joint swelling and inflammation from days 4-22 in WT and Tlr4(-/-) mice. Unlike WT mice, Tlr4(-/-) mice displayed a significant reversal in mechanical hypersensitivity and diminished appearance of glial activation markers after resolution of peripheral inflammation. Intrathecal (IT) delivery of a TLR4 antagonist, lipopolysaccharide Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS; 10 μg), on days 6, 9, and 12 abrogated the transition to persistent mechanical hypersensitivity in WT arthritic mice, while later administration had no impact. We utilized a lipidomics liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methodology to determine spinal cord profiles of bioactive lipid species after early LPS-RS treatment compared to vehicle-treated control animals. WT arthritic mice had reduced spinal levels of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) on day 6, compared to IT LPS-RS-treated mice. Direct IT application of 15d-PGJ(2) (0.5 μg) on day 6 improved mechanical hypersensitivity in arthritic mice within 15 min. Hence, TLR4 signaling altered spinal bioactive lipid profiles in the serum transfer model and played a critical role in the transition from acute to chronic postinflammatory mechanical hypersensitivity.
Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Christina A
CA
Christianson
Darren S
DS
Dumlao
Jennifer A
JA
Stokes
Edward A
EA
Dennis
Camilla I
CI
Svensson
Maripat
M
Corr
Tony L
TL
Yaksh
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4