Spinal interleukin-10 therapy to treat peripheral neuropathic pain.
BACKGROUND
Current research indicates that chronic peripheral neuropathic pain includes a role for glia and the actions of proinflammatory factors. This review briefly discusses the glial and cytokine responses that occur following peripheral nerve damage in support of utilizing anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) therapy to suppress chronic peripheral neuropathic pain. SPINAL NONVIRAL INTERLEUKIN-10 GENE THERAPY:  IL-10 is one of the most powerful endogenous counter-regulators of proinflammatory cytokine function that acts in the nervous system. Subarachnoid (intrathecal) spinal injection of the gene encoding IL-10 delivered by nonviral vectors has several advantages over virally mediated gene transfer methods and leads to profound pain relief in several animal models. NONVIRAL GENE DELIVERY:  Lastly, data are reviewed that nonviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) encapsulated by a biologically safe copolymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), thought to protect DNA, leads to significantly improved therapeutic gene transfer in animal models, which additionally and significantly extends pain relief.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of these early studies exploring anti-inflammatory genes emphasizes the exceptional therapeutic potential of new biocompatible intrathecal nonviral gene delivery approaches such as PLGA microparticles. Ultimately, ongoing expression of therapeutic genes is a viable option to treat chronic neuropathic pain in the clinic.
Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, NM, USA.
Erin D
ED
Milligan
Kathryn R
KR
Penzkover
Ryan G
RG
Soderquist
Melissa J
MJ
Mahoney
D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D016753:Interleukin-10; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid