Blocking Cx43 alleviates P2X4 receptor-mediated neuropathic pain in CCI rats

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a growing concern in the medical community, and the search for new analgesic targets for neuropathic pain has become a new hot spot. In this study, we examined whether Cx43 has a key role in neuropathic pain mediated by P2X4 receptor- in rats after peripheral nerve injuring. Our experimental results show that ATP released via Cx43 has a crucial role in P2X4 receptor-mediated neuropathic pain in the rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, and the p38, ERK, and NF-kB signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the development of neuropathic pain processes. In brief, blockade of CX43 could attenuateP2X4 receptor-mediated neuropathic pain in rats suffering from CCI, and Cx43 may be promising therapeutic targets for the development of novel pharmacological agents in the management of neuropathic pain.