title: Wnt signaling in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis-associated chronic pain.
abstract: Many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients develop chronic pain, but the underlying pathological mechanism is unknown. Mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) have been widely used to model MS-related neurological complications, including CNS demyelination, neuroinflammation and motor impairments. Similar to MS patients, EAE mice also develop chronic pain. We are interested in elucidating the potential involvement of Wnt signaling in the pathogenesis of chronic pain in EAE mice. In this study, we characterized the expression of Wnt signaling proteins in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) of EAE mice, by immunoblotting and immunostaining. The EAE model was created by immunization of adult mice (C57BL/6, 10 weeks) with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55. Robust mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia were developed in both fore- and hindpaws of the EAE mice. Wnt3a, a prototypical Wnt ligand for the canonical pathway, was significantly increased in the SCDH of the EAE mice. Another key protein in the canonical pathway, ß-catenin, was also significantly up-regulated. In addition, Wnt5a, a prototypic Wnt ligand for the non-canonical pathway, and its receptor (co-receptor) Ror2 were also up-regulated in the SCDH of the EAE mice. We further found that Wnt5a antagonist Box5 and β-catenin inhibitor indomethacin attenuated mechanical allodynia in the EAE mice. Our data collectively suggest that Wnt signaling pathways are up-regulated in the SCDH of the EAE mice and that aberrant activation of Wnt signaling contributes to the development of EAE-related chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Subo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yuqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shao-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology; D020721:Nervous System Autoimmune Disease, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D057050:Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D057050:Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors; C477010:Ror2 protein, mouse