Mitochondria-targeting nanozyme alleviating temporomandibular joint pain by inhibiting the TNFα/NF-κB/NEAT1 pathway

J Mater Chem B. 2023 Dec 22;12(1):112-121. doi: 10.1039/d3tb00929g.

Abstract

Inflammatory cytokines that are secreted into the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C) may augment inflammation and cause pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). In a two-step process, we attached triphenylphosphonium (TPP) to the surface of a cubic liposome metal-organic framework (MOF) loaded with ruthenium (Ru) nanozyme. The design targeted mitochondria and was designated Mito-Ru MOF. This structure scavenges free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alleviates oxidative stress. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms by which Mito-Ru MOF ameliorates TMD pain. Intra-temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injections of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammatory pain for ≥10 d in the skin areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (lncRNA NEAT1), and ROS also have been proved to be significantly upregulated in the Sp5C of TMD mice. Moreover, a single Mito-Ru MOF treatment alleviated TMD pain for 3 d and downregulated TNF-α, NF-κB, lncRNA NEAT1, and ROS. NF-κB knockdown downregulated NEAT1 in the TMD mice. Hence, Mito-Ru MOF inhibited the production of ROS and alleviated CFA-induced TMD pain via the TNF-α/NF-κB/NEAT1 pathway. Therefore, Mito-Ru MOF could effectively treat the pain related to TMD and other conditions associated with severe acute inflammatory activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • Pain / metabolism
  • Pain / pathology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Temporomandibular Joint / metabolism
  • Temporomandibular Joint / pathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • triphenylphosphonium