| First Author | Cao L | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 448-58 |
| PubMed ID | 18196515 | Mgi Jnum | J:131283 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3773455 | Doi | 10.1002/eji.200737485 |
| Citation | Cao L, et al. (2008) CNS-infiltrating CD4(+) T lymphocytes contribute to murine spinal nerve transection-induced neuropathic pain. Eur J Immunol 38(2):448-458 |
| abstractText | We previously reported leukocytic infiltration into the lumbar spinal cord in a rodent spinal nerve L5 transection (L5Tx) neuropathic pain model. Here, we further investigated the role of infiltrating T lymphocytes in the etiology of persistent pain following L5Tx. T lymphocyte-deficient nude mice showed no evident mechanical hypersensitivity after day 3 of L5Tx compared to wild-type BALB/c mice. Through FACS analysis, we determined that significant leukocytic infiltration (CD45(hi)) into the lumbar spinal cord peaked at day 7 post L5Tx. These infiltrating leukocytes contained predominantly CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and macrophages were not detected at day 7 post L5Tx. No differences in the activation of peripheral CD4(+) T lymphocytes were detected in either the spleen or lumbar lymph nodes between L5Tx and sham surgery groups. Further, CD4 KO mice displayed significantly decreased mechanical hypersensitivity after day 7 of L5Tx, and adoptive transfer of CD4(+) leukocytes reversed this effect. Decreased immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein observed in CD4 KO mice post L5Tx indicated possible T lymphocyte-glial interactions. These results strongly support a contributing role of spinal cord-infiltrating CD4(+) T lymphocytes versus peripheral CD4(+) T lymphocytes in the maintenance of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. |
