title: Effects of puerarin on the inflammatory role of burn-related procedural pain mediated by P2X(7) receptors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burn injury can induce an inflammatory response in the blood and wound of patients. Procedural activities in burn patients are particularly problematic in burn care due to their high intensity and frequency; hence, procedural pain evoked by burn dressing changes is a common severe issue. Previous studies demonstrated that purinergic signalling is one of the major pathways involved in the initiation, progression and down-regulation of the inflammatory response. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) contributes to inflammation, and increased extracellular ATP levels amplify inflammation in vivo via the P2X7 receptor. In the present study, the effect of puerarin, an active ingredient extracted from Chinese herbal medicine Ge Gen, on pain relief of burn patients during dressing change and the mechanism related to the regulation of the purinergic signalling pathway were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Burn patients were randomly divided into the normal saline group (NS-treated burn patients) and the puerarin-treated group (PUE-treated burn patients), and healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group. The visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) of NS- and PUE-treated burn patients were observed. In addition, interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-4 levels in blood samples, as well as expression of P2X7 receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-1 levels in the PUE-treated burn patients at post-dressing changes were significantly decreased in comparison with those in NS-treated burn patients; in contrast, the IL-4 levels in PUE-treated burn patients were increased. The expression levels of P2X7 protein and mRNA in PBMCs of PUE-treated burn patients were significantly decreased in comparison with those in NS-treated burn patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inflammation and associated pain involved in dressing changes of burn patients were relieved by puerarin treatment. The effects were correlated with the decreased expression level of P2X7 receptor mRNA and protein in PBMCs of burn patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Changshui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guilin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shuangmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huang
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: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qicheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shicheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chaoran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Shangdong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D007378:Interleukins; D007529:Isoflavones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D010100:Oxygen; C033607:puerarin