Platelet-derived growth factor activates nociceptive neurons by inhibiting M-current and contributes to inflammatory pain

Pain. 2019 Jun;160(6):1281-1296. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001523.

Abstract

Endogenous inflammatory mediators contribute to the pathogenesis of pain by acting on nociceptors, specialized sensory neurons that detect noxious stimuli. Here, we describe a new factor mediating inflammatory pain. We show that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB applied in vitro causes repetitive firing of dissociated nociceptor-like rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and decreased their threshold for action potential generation. Injection of PDGF-BB into the paw produced nocifensive behavior in rats and led to thermal and mechanical pain hypersensitivity. We further detailed the biophysical mechanisms of these PDGF-BB effects and show that PDGF receptor-induced inhibition of nociceptive M-current underlies PDGF-BB-mediated nociceptive hyperexcitability. Moreover, in vivo sequestration of PDGF or inhibition of the PDGF receptor attenuates acute formalin-induced inflammatory pain. Our discovery of a new pain-facilitating proinflammatory mediator, which by inhibiting M-current activates nociceptive neurons and thus contributes to inflammatory pain, improves our understanding of inflammatory pain pathophysiology and may have important clinical implications for pain treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
  • Ganglia, Spinal / physiopathology
  • Hyperalgesia / metabolism
  • Hyperalgesia / physiopathology
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Nociceptors / drug effects
  • Nociceptors / physiology*
  • Pain / metabolism
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain Measurement / drug effects
  • Pain Measurement / methods
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / drug effects
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor