Journal of neurochemistry
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Journal of neurochemistry · Jun 2008
Comparative StudyToll-like receptor 3 contributes to spinal glial activation and tactile allodynia after nerve injury.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in innate immune responses and in the initiation of adaptive immune responses. Microglia, the resident innate immune cells in the CNS, express TLRs. In this study, we show that TLR3 is crucial for spinal cord glial activation and tactile allodynia after peripheral nerve injury. ⋯ Indeed, TLR3-deficient mice did not develop tactile allodynia after nerve injury or polyinosine-polycytidylic acid injection. Our results indicate that TLR3 has a substantial role in the activation of spinal glial cells and the development of tactile allodynia after nerve injury. Thus, blocking TLR3 in the spinal glial cells might provide a fruitful strategy for treating neuropathic pain.