title: Gene silencing of NR2B-containing NMDA receptor by intrathecal injection of short hairpin RNA reduces formalin-induced nociception in C57BL/6 mouse.
abstract: Spinal NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NR2B) play a critical role in the formation of central sensitization and persistent pain. Previous studies show that gene silencing of the spinal NR2B subunit by small interfering RNA (siRNA) could alleviate nociception in animals. The siRNA is a 19- to 23-nt RNA duplex, which can be synthesized in vitro or derived from short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). In the present study, we investigated whether intrathecal injection of shRNAs targeting NR2B (GRIN2B shRNA) could affect nociception on formalin-induced pain in mice. Our results showed that intrathecal injection of GRIN2B shRNA could decrease NR2B mRNA and protein expression levels and hence effectively relieve formalin-induced nociception in mice, suggesting that intrathecal delivery of GRIN2B shRNA can be an efficient way to silence the target gene and provide new insights into the treatment of chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Rao-Xiang
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005557:Formaldehyde