The 5-HT Descending Facilitation System Contributes to the Disinhibition of Spinal PKCγ Neurons and Neuropathic Allodynia via 5-HT2C Receptors
Xiao Zhang1,2 · Xiao‑Lan He1 · Zhen‑Hua Jiang1,3 · Jing Qi1 · Chen‑Chen Huang1 · Jian‑Shuai Zhao1 · Nan Gu1 · Yan Lu1 · Qun Wang11 Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Department of Pain Medicine, Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Ministry of Education of China, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
2 State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
3 Department of Clinical Immunology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
Abstract
Neuropathic pain, often featuring allodynia, imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, with limited treatments due to unclear central mechanisms. Addressing this challenge remains a crucial unsolved issue in pain medicine. Our previous study, using protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ)-tdTomato mice, highlights the spinal feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons in gating neuropathic allodynia. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this circuit necessitate further elucidation. We used diverse transgenic mice and advanced techniques to uncover the regulatory role of the descending serotonin (5-HT) facilitation system on spinal PKCγ neurons. Our findings revealed that 5-HT neurons from the rostral ventromedial medulla hyperpolarize spinal inhibitory interneurons via 5-HT2C receptors, disinhibiting the feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons and exacerbating allodynia. Inhibiting spinal 5-HT2C receptors restored the feedforward inhibitory circuit, effectively preventing neuropathic allodynia. These insights offer promising therapeutic targets for neuropathic allodynia management, emphasizing the potential of spinal 5-HT2C receptors as a novel avenue for intervention.
Keywords
PKCγ neurons; Inhibitory interneurons; Neuropathic allodynia; 5-HT descending facilitation system; 5-HT2C receptors
