Mol Pain
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a prevalent and severe side effect affecting cancer patients undergoing paclitaxel treatment. Growing evidence underscores the pivotal role of calcitonin-related peptide (CGRP) in the development of CIPN. Repeated administration of paclitaxel induces alterations in CGRP release from sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). ⋯ This effect of repeated paclitaxel administration was also linked to an increase in the recruitment of MLL2, thereby enhancing levels of the active mark H3K4me2 at the Calcrl promoter. Furthermore, administration of the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN4096 mitigated mechanical and cold hypersensitivity in paclitaxel-treated mice. Together, these observations suggest the CGRP receptor in the spinal cord as a potential target for reducing paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in animal models.
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This study investigated the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with degenerative lumbar stenosis, focusing on its expression and correlation with pain intensity. The study examined 96 patients with lumbar stenosis and 85 control participants. BDNF levels in the yellow ligamentum flavum were measured using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and western blot analysis. ⋯ These findings suggest that BDNF could serve as a biomarker for pain severity in degenerative lumbar stenosis at the protein level, although this was not consistently observed at the mRNA level; this highlights the potential for BDNF-targeted therapies in managing pain. Future research should involve larger longitudinal studies to validate these findings and explore therapeutic interventions. This study underscores the importance of considering molecular and lifestyle factors in the treatment of degenerative lumbar stenosis, aiming to improve patient outcomes through comprehensive, targeted approaches.