• X-L Zhou, Y Wang, C-J Zhang, L-N Yu, J-L Cao, and M Yan.
• Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
• Eur J Pain. 2015 Oct 1; 19 (9): 1277-87.

BackgroundEphB receptors and their ephrinB ligands are implicated in modulating spinal nociceptive information processing. Here, we investigated whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), acts as a downstream effector, participates in the modulation of spinal nociceptive information related to ephrinB/EphB signalling.MethodsThermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were measured by using radiant heat and von Frey filaments test, respectively. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of spinal COX-2 mRNA. Spinal COX-2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) protein were determined by Western blot analysis.ResultsIntrathecal injection of ephrinB2-Fc caused thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, which were accompanied by increased expression of spinal COX-2 mRNA and protein. Inhibition of spinal COX-2 prevented and reversed pain behaviours induced by the intrathecal injection of ephrinB2-Fc. Blockade of EphB receptors by intrathecal injection of EphB2-Fc reduced complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain behaviours, which were accompanied by decreased expression of spinal COX-2 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, treatment with U0126, a mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, suppressed spinal ERK activation and COX-2 mRNA and protein expression induced by intrathecal injection of ephrinB1-Fc.ConclusionsThese results confirmed the important involvement of COX-2 in the modulation of spinal nociceptive information related to ephrinBs-EphBs signalling.© 2015 European Pain Federation - EFIC®

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