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Promoted interaction of C/EBPα with demethylated Cxcr3 gene promoter contributes to neuropathic pain in mice.

Journal of Neuroscience 2016 December 10
DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. However, the specific genes that are regulated by DNA methylation under neuropathic pain condition remain largely unknown. Here we investigated how chemokine receptor CXCR3 is regulated by DNA methylation and its contribution to neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. SNL increased Cxcr3 mRNA and protein expression in the neurons of spinal cord. Meanwhile, the CpG island in the Cxcr3 gene promoter region was demethylated, and the expression of DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) was decreased. SNL also increased the binding of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) with Cxcr3 promoter and decreased the binding of DNMT3b with Cxcr3 promoter in the spinal cord. C/EBPα expression was increased in spinal neurons after SNL, and inhibition of C/EBPα by intrathecal siRNA attenuated SNL-induced pain hypersensitivity and reduced Cxcr3 expression. Furthermore, SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia were markedly reduced in Cxcr3(-/-) mice. Spinal inhibition of Cxcr3 by shRNA or CXCR3 antagonist also attenuated established neuropathic pain. Moreover, CXCL10, the ligand of CXCR3 was increased in spinal neurons and astrocytes after SNL. Superfusing spinal cord slices with CXCL10 enhanced spontaneous EPSCs and potentiated NMDA- and AMPA-induced currents of lamina II neurons. Finally, intrathecal injection of CXCL10 induced CXCR3-dependent pain hypersensitivity in naïve mice. Collectively, our results demonstrated that CXCR3, increased by DNA demethylation and the enhanced interaction with C/EBPα, can be activated by CXCL10 to facilitate excitatory synaptic transmission and contribute to the maintenance of neuropathic pain.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Peripheral nerve injury induces the changes of gene expression in the spinal cord, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. CXCR3 is a chemokine receptor. Whether it is involved in neuropathic pain and how it is regulated after nerve injury remain largely unknown. Our study demonstrated that SNL downregulated the expression of DNMT3b, which may cause demethylation of Cxcr3 gene promoter and facilitated the binding of C/EBPα with Cxcr3 promoter and further increased CXCR3 expression in spinal neurons. The upregulated CXCR3 may contribute to neuropathic pain via facilitate central sensitization. Our study revealed an epigenetic mechanism underlying CXCR3 expression and also suggests that targeting the expression or activation of CXCR3 signaling may offer new therapeutics for neuropathic pain.

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