Work

Spinal matrix metalloproteinase 8 regulates pain after peripheral trauma

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: It is well documented that pain chronification requires a host of plastic mechanisms at the spinal cord (SC) level, including alterations in neuronal and glial structure and function. Such cellular plasticity necessitates the existence of a plastic extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we describe a key role for ECM remodeling in the regulation of chronic pain following peripheral injury. Three weeks following tibia fracture in mice, we show increased levels of MMP8 in the SC. Furthermore, we show that the pharmacological or genetic downregulation of MMP8 ameliorates the pain phenotype observed after injury. These results delineate an extracellular mechanism for pain chronification, thereby improving our mechanistic understanding of pain and providing novel therapeutic venues that go beyond targeting individual cell types.

Source: Journal of Pain Research

DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s197761

Authors: Maral Tajerian, J David Clark

Institutions: Queens College, CUNY, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University

Language: English

Topic: Pain Mechanisms and Treatments

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836