Expression of inflammation/pain-related genes in the dorsal root ganglion following disc puncture in rats.

PURPOSE: 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).

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.