Regulation of neuropathic pain by microglial Orai1 channels

Sci Adv. 2023 Jan 27;9(4):eade7002. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade7002. Epub 2023 Jan 27.

Abstract

Microglia are important mediators of neuroinflammation, which underlies neuropathic pain. However, the molecular checkpoints controlling microglial reactivity are not well-understood. Here, we investigated the role of Orai1 channels for microglia-mediated neuroinflammation following nerve injury and find that deletion of Orai1 in microglia attenuates Ca2+ signaling and the production of inflammatory cytokines by proalgesic agonists. Conditional deletion of Orai1 attenuated microglial proliferation in the dorsal horn, spinal cytokine levels, and potentiation of excitatory neurotransmission following peripheral nerve injury. These cellular effects were accompanied by mitigation of pain hyperalgesia in microglial Orai1 knockout mice. A small-molecule Orai1 inhibitor, CM4620, similarly mitigated allodynia in male mice. Unexpectedly, these protective effects were not seen in female mice, revealing sexual dimorphism in Orai1 regulation of microglial reactivity and hyperalgesia. Together, these findings indicate that Orai1 channels are key regulators of the sexually dimorphic role of microglia for the neuroinflammation that underlies neuropathic pain.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Hyperalgesia / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microglia* / metabolism
  • Neuralgia* / genetics
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases
  • ORAI1 Protein / genetics
  • Spinal Cord

Substances

  • zegocractin
  • Cytokines
  • Orai1 protein, mouse
  • ORAI1 Protein