Abstract:Objective: To explore the effect of neferine (NEF) on pain response in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) mice by regulating the growth arrest specific protein 6 (Gas6)/AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (Axl) signaling pathway. Methods: PHN mice models were constructed. The successfully modeled mice were stochastically separated into PHN group, NEF-L group (5mg/kg), NEF-M group (10mg/kg), NEF-H group (20mg/kg), R428 group (20mg/kg and 125mg/kg Gas6/Axl signaling pathway inhibitor R428). Both NEF and R428 were administered via intraperitoneal injection, each with 10 mice. Another 10 normal C57BL/6J mice were served as the control group (NC group). The pain threshold and spontaneous foot contraction reflex frequency of mice were measured. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in spinal cord tissue. ELISA was used to measure the inflammatory factors, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and substance P (SP) in mouse spinal cord tissue. TUNEL was used to observe apoptosis of spinal cord neurons in mice. Hexamine silver staining was used to observe morphological changes in mouse spinal cord tissue. Western blot was used to measure the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway and apoptosis related proteins in mouse spinal cord tissue. Results: The PHN group showed severe damage to the spinal cord tissue and neuronal fiber structure in mice, conspicuously higher spontaneous foot contraction reflex frequency, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, 5-HT, SP, neuronal apoptosis rate, Bax (P<0.05), and conspicuously lower mechanical pain threshold, thermal pain threshold, Gas6, p-Axl/Axl, Bcl-2 than the NC group (P<0.05). The NEF-L group, NEF-M group, and NEF-H group showed reduced damage to the spinal cord tissue and neuronal fiber structure in mice, lower spontaneous foot contraction reflex frequency, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, 5-HT, SP, neuronal apoptosis rate, Bax (P<0.05), and higher mechanical pain threshold, thermal pain threshold, Gas6, p-Axl/Axl, Bcl-2 than the PHN group (P<0.05). The R428 group showed aggravated damage to spinal cord tissue and neuronal fiber structure in mice, conspicuously higher spontaneous foot contraction reflex frequency, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, 5-HT, SP, neuronal apoptosis rate, Bax (P<0.05), and conspicuously lower mechanical pain threshold, thermal pain threshold, Gas6, p-Axl/Axl, Bcl-2 than the NEF-H group (P<0.05). Conclusion: NEF can improve pain and inflammatory response in PHN mice, which may be closely related to the activation of Gas6/Axl signaling pathway.
雷剑, 黄丹, 葛兴森. 甲基莲心碱调节Gas6/Axl信号通路对带状疱疹后遗神经痛小鼠疼痛反应的影响[J]. 河北医学, 2025, 31(11): 1801-1807.
LEI Jian, HUANG Dan, GE Xingsen. The Effect of Neferine on Pain Response in Postherpetic Neuralgia Mice by Regulating the Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway. HeBei Med, 2025, 31(11): 1801-1807.