Role of mast cell in hyperalgesic priming and the preventive effect of electroacupuncture on the transition from acute to chronic pain

作者：Junhui Ren, Na Li, Xi Danning, Naixuan Wei, Xiaomei Shao, Boyi Liu, Yi Liang, Junying Du, Xiaomin Jin, Jianqiao Fang, Junfan Fang · 发表于：Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1097/hm9.0000000000000140 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Pain Mechanisms and Treatments、Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies、Healthcare and Venom Research

Objective: Injury can lead to long-term changes that increase the sensitivity of afferent nerve endings to subsequent stimulation and pain can transition from acute to chronic. This phenomenon is known as hyperalgesic priming (HP). This study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on HP and optimize acupoint selection for EA to prevent pain transition. Methods: A rat HP model was established using sequential intraplantar injections of carrageenan (Cg) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The pain thresholds were measured using von Frey filaments. EA on bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Kunlun (BL60) was used to prevent pain transition. The number of mast cells in the ipsilateral hindpaw skin was determined using toluidine blue or fluorescence-labeled avidin staining. The protein expression levels of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) in the lumbar dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) were detected by western blotting 24 h after PGE2 injection. Serial pharmacological experiments were conducted to evaluate the relationship between mast cells and pain transition. Finally, EA on the bilateral ST36 and Chongyang (ST42) or a novel combination (ST36 and ST42 on the ipsilateral side, and ST36 and BL60 on the contralateral side) was used to prevent pain transition. Results: Although EA applied to ST36 and BL60 alleviated acute pain induced by Cg injection, it failed to prevent the pain transition caused by PGE2 injection. Mast cell accumulation in the ipsilateral ...