Increased Neuroligin 2 Levels in the Postsynaptic Membrane in Spinal Dorsal Horn may Contribute to Postoperative Pain.

Abstract

Neuroligin 2 is a synaptic cell adhesion molecule that is mainly located in inhibitory synapses and is crucial in the regulation of synapse function through protein-protein interactions. However, researchers have not clearly determined whether neuroligin 2 is involved in the development of postoperative pain. In the current study, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation were used to examine the critical role of neuroligin 2 in postoperative pain hypersensitivity. A small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA)-targeting neuroligin 2 was used to inhibit neuroligin 2 expression. Our data found that plantar incision induced postoperative pain hypersensitivity, which was characterized by paw withdrawal threshold and cumulative pain score. The upregulation of neuroligin 2 and GluR1 expression in the postsynaptic membranes of ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn was observed at 3 h and 1 day after plantar incision. Additionally, at 3 h after plantar incision, the amount of PSD-95 that was co-immunoprecipitated with neuroligin 2 antibody was significantly increased in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, as compared to that of the control group. Intrathecal pretreatment of siRNA-targeting neuroligin 2 to reduce the neuroligin 2 expression in the spinal cord significantly inhibited the pain hypersensitivity and reduced the synaptic targeting of GluR1 in ipsilateral dorsal horns. Our study indicates that the incision-induced interaction between neuroligin 2 and PSD-95 and subsequent synaptic targeting of GluR1 in ipsilateral dorsal horns contribute to postoperative pain hypersensitivity.

• Authors: Ruijuan Guo, Huili Li, Xueyang Li, Yuqing Sun, Huihui Miao, Danxu Ma, Fangxiao Hong, Ye Zhang, Yun Guan, Junfa Li, Ming Tian, Yun Wang
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 382 Pg. 14-22 (07 01 2018) ISSN: 1873-7544 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29715511 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 IBRO. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
• Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
• Dlg4 protein, rat
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• neuroligin 2

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal (metabolism)
• Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein (metabolism)
• Hyperalgesia (metabolism)
• Male
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Pain, Postoperative (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn (metabolism)
• Synaptic Membranes (metabolism)