title: Significance of alpha smooth muscle actin expression in traumatic painful neuromas: a pilot study in rats.
abstract: Treatment of painful neuromas remains a challenge and the mechanism of neuroma-associated pain is not yet fully understood. In this study, we aimed to observe the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in traumatic neuromas and to investigate its possible roles in the cause of neuropathic pain in a rat model. The rat sciatic nerve was used and the experiment was divided into two parts. In part I, our results showed significantly higher levels of α-SMA and the pain marker c-fos in the autotomy group than in the no-autotomy group. In part II, the expression of α-SMA in neuromas was down- and up-regulated using SB-431542 and GW9662, respectively. A significant correlation between autotomy scores and the expression level of α-SMA was found (R = 0.957; p < 0.001) and the expression level of α-SMA was positively related to the autotomy scores (R(2) = 0.915, p < 0.001). We concluded that the expression of α-SMA plays certain roles in the neuroma-associated pain, either as a direct cause of pain or as an indirect marker of existence of local mechanical stimuli. Our findings may provide new insights into the development of new treatment modalities for the management of intractable painful neuromas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dingshen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Weiyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics (Division of Plastic and Hand Surgery) The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hede
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000813:Anilides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009463:Neuroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066148:Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000813:Anilides; D001549:Benzamides; D004149:Dioxoles; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; C457499:2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide; C459179:4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamide; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat