Expression of inflammation/pain-related genes in the dorsal root ganglion following disc puncture in rats.
To determine the expression of inflammation- and pain-related genes at days 1 and 3 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rats with or without disc puncture, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) with the TaqMan low-density array (TLDA).



53 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The left facet joint between L4 and L5 was removed, and the DRG and intervertebral disc between the vertebrae were exposed. The L4-5 intervertebral disc was punctured using a 0.4-mm diameter injection needle (disc puncture group) or left unpunctured (sham group). After one or 3 days, the 53 DRGs were harvested, frozen, and assessed for expression of inflammation-related genes. Total RNA was isolated from the DRGs. Expression of 119 genes related to inflammation and pain in the DRG after disc puncture were analysed using RT-qPCR with the TLDA.



Of the 95 inflammation-related genes, 78 genes were reliably detected. Two genes were significantly up-regulated: cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CYSLTR1) at day 3 and interleukin 2 receptor gamma (IL2RG) at day 1, and one gene was significantly down-regulated: phospholipase C beta 3 (PLCB3) at day 1. Of the 24 pain-related genes, 18 genes were reliably detected. Two genes were significantly up-regulated: nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) at days 1 and 3 and 5-HT2A receptor (HTR2A) at day 1.



Disc puncture may elicit changes in the expression of a variety of genes. Gene expression profiling is a useful tool for detecting new potential pharmaceutical targets for spinal pain syndromes.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan & Musculoskeletal Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Fujioka
Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden & TATAA Biocenter, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Stahlberg
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan.
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Ochi
Musculoskeletal Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Olmarker
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics*; D011677:Punctures; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
ganglia, spinal; gene expression profiling; low back pain