Noggin alleviates neuropathic pain by regulating microglial polarization and remodeling iron homeostasis via a STAT3-dependent pathway.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Pain sensitization, as a core feature of neuropathic pain (NP), is closely associated with inflammatory imbalance within the central nervous system. To investigate the effects of intrathecal injection of noggin (NOG) on mechanical hypersensitivity, microglial (MG) activation and polarization, and iron metabolism in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced rat model of NP, and to explore the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in MG phenotypic transformation. METHODS: ). p-STAT3 localization in MGs was visualized via immunofluorescence. In vitro, primary MGs were divided into Control, bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4), and BMP4+Stattic (STAT3 inhibitor) groups to examine the effects of STAT3 inhibition on MG activation, polarization, and iron regulation. RESULTS: <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NOG alleviates SNL-induced NP by antagonizing the STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby rebalancing microglial polarization and restoring iron metabolism.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Wenjuan Zhang, Lin Yang, Ran Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4413102041