Reversible Induction of Pain Hypersensitivity following Optogenetic Stimulation of Spinal Astrocytes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.043
• Publication Date: 2016-12-14T00:03:51Z
• Authors: Youngpyo Nam; Jae-Hong Kim; Jong-Heon Kim; Mithilesh Kumar Jha; Ji Young Jung; Maan-Gee Lee; In-Sun Choi; Il-Sung Jang; Dong Gun Lim; Sung-Hun Hwang; Hee-Jung Cho; Kyoungho Suk
• Keywords: Photostimulation; Disinhibition; Pathogenesis; Neuroglia

While glial activation is an integral part of pain pathogenesis, the existence a causal relationship between glia and processing has yet to be demonstrated in vivo. Here, we have investigated whether spinal astrocytes could directly evoke hypersensitivity vivo via use optogenetic techniques. Optogenetic stimulation channelrhopdopsin-2 (ChR)-expressing induced reversible time-dependent manner, which was accompanied by activation, NR1 phosphorylation, ATP release, production proalgesic mediators. Photostimulation ChR2-expressing culture slices recapitulated findings, demonstrating release mediators electrophysiological disinhibition projection neurons. These findings deepen our understanding role pathogenesis provide scientific basis for astrocyte-oriented treatment.