title: Effects of anti-rVEGF on the expression of VEGF receptor-2 and P2X(2/3) receptors of the spinal dorsal horn in neuropathic pain rats.
abstract: Neuropathic pain is caused by the peripheral or central nervous system structure damage or dysfunction. VEGF is involved in nociception and inflammation. VEGF may target VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) on the surface of neurons. P2X(2/3) receptors play a crucial role in facilitating pain transmission at the spinal sites. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats were used as neuropathic pain model. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into sham group, anti-recombinant VEGF antibody group with phosphate-buffer saline (anti-rVEGF+PBS group), CCI rats treated with phosphate-buffer saline group (CCI+PBS group) and CCI rats treated with anti-recombinant VEGF antibody group (CCI+anti-rVEGF group). The expressions of VEGFR-2, P2X(2) and P2X(3) protein in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) were detected by immunohistochemistry, double-label immunofluorescence and western blotting. The protein levels of VEGFR-2, P2X(2) and P2X(3) in L4/5 SDH of CCI+PBS group were higher than those in sham group. VEGFR-2 and P2X(2) or P2X(3) receptors were co-expressed in the cytoplasm and surface membranes of SDH. Anti-rVEGF treatment in CCI rats reduced the expression of VEGFR-2 and P2X(2/3) receptors in L4/5 SDH compared with those in CCI+PBS group. Therefore, VEGF may activate VEGFR-2 to participate the process of neuropathic pain. Anti-rVEGF treatment in CCI rats reduced the expression of VEGFR-2 and inhibited the transmission of neuropathic pain in L4/5 SDH via decreasing the expression of P2X(2/3). There is a cross-potentiation between VEGFR-2 and P2X(2/3) receptors in neuropathic pain state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guilin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Changshui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shuangmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jinyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shuyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Shangdong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003250:Constriction; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000276:immunology*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2