EXPRESS: Oligodendrocytes in HIV-associated pain pathogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Although the contributions of microglia and astrocytes to chronic pain pathogenesis have been a focal point of investigation in recent years, the potential role of oligodendrocytes, another major type of glial cells in the CNS that generates myelin, remains largely unknown.


RESULTS
We report here that cell markers of the oligodendrocyte lineage, including NG2, PDGFRa, and Olig2, are significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horn of HIV patients who developed chronic pain. The levels of myelin proteins myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein are also aberrant in the spinal dorsal horn of "pain-positive" HIV patients. Similarly, the oligodendrocyte and myelin markers are up-regulated in the spinal dorsal horn of a mouse model of HIV-1 gp120-induced pain. Surprisingly, the expression of gp120-induced mechanical allodynia appears intact up to 4 h after myelin basic protein is knocked down or knocked out.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that oligodendrocytes are reactive during the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pain. However, interfering with myelination does not alter the induction of gp120-induced pain.
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Yuqiang
Y
Shi
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Jianghong
J
Shu
University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Zongsuo
Z
Liang
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Subo
S
Yuan
University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston shtang@utmb.edu.
Shao-Jun
SJ
Tang
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D066148:Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein