MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to their cognate target mRNAs. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are critical regulators of neuronal functions. The expression pattern of miRNAs in the peripheral nervous system after peripheral nerve injury suggest that miRNAs may have important and yet unknown roles in the mechanisms of pain. Thus, we examined the role of miR-96 in neuropathic pain using a rat model of the condition chronic constriction sciatic nerve injury (CCI). We found that miR-96 alleviated neuropathic pain. The level of miR-96 was decreased within the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) after peripheral nerve injury but the Nav1.3 level was increased. Specifically, Intrathecal administration of miR-96 suppressed the expression of Nav1.3 induced by CCI. Further examination revealed that miR-96 inhibited the Nav1.3 mRNA expression in the embryonic DRG neurons in vitro. Our findings suggest that miR-96 participate in the regulation of neuropathic pain through inhibiting the expression of Nav1.3 in the DRG of CCI rats.

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MicroRNAs have been implicated in nerve injury and neuropathic pain. In the previous study we had shown that miR-96 can attenuate neuropathic pain through inhibition of Nav1.3. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-183, a same cluster member of microRNA with miR-96, in neuropathic pain and its potential mechanisms. We found that the expression level of miR-183-5p in dorsal root ganglion was decreased with the development of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction sciatic nerve injury (CCI). By contrast, the TREK-1, a K channel, was increased. Further investigation identified that intrathecal injection of miR-183-5p mimic efficiently ameliorated neuropathic pain and inhibited the expression of TREK-1, a predicted target gene of miR-183-5p. Luciferase assays confirmed the binding of miR-183-5p and TREK-1. In addition, over-expression of TREK-1 blocked the roles of miR-183-5p in neuropathic pain. Our findings suggested that miR-183-5P participated in the regulation of CCI-induced neuropathic pain through inhibiting the expression of TREK-1.

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8-Prenylnaringenin (8-PN) is a phytoestrogen with the highest estrogenic activity. The objective of the present study was to confirm the superiority of 8-PN on bone metabolisms and the estrogen receptor (ER) subtype mediating effects of 8-PN. The osteoblast MC3T3-E1 and osteoclast-like cell line RAW264.7 were treated with 17β-estradiol (10−8 mol/L), genistein (10−5 mol/L), daidzein (10−5 mol/L), 8-PN (10−5 mol/L) alone or in the presence of ERα antagonist MPP (10−7 mol/L) and ERβ antagonist PTHPP (1.5 × 10−7 mol/L). It has been found that 8-PN did not affect osteoblast proliferation, and that 8-PN increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OCN) concentrations, and the mineralized nodules. 8-PN inhibited RAW264.7 differentiating into osteoclasts and reduced the pit area of bone resorption. 8-PN could also inhibit the protein and mRNA expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in osteoblasts, and conversely promote the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG). These effects of 8-PN were mainly inhibited not by PTHPP but by MPP and they were weaker than estrogen's effects but stronger than those of genistein and daidzein. In conclusion, the effects of 8-PN on promoting osteoblastic bone formation and inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption were mediated by ERα instead of ERβ and the efficacy was more potent than that of the two classic phytoestrogens: genistein and daidzein.