Molecular brain
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The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors form a large and diverse family of acetylcholine gated ion channels having diverse roles in the central nervous system. Maturation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is a complex and inefficient process requiring assistance from multiple cellular factors including RIC-3, a functionally conserved endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-specific chaperone. In mammals and in Drosophila melanogaster RIC-3 is alternatively spliced to produce multiple isoforms. ⋯ Regulation of expression level and splicing of RIC-3 in brain and in immune cells following inflammation enables regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor functional expression. Specifically, in immune cells such regulation via effects on α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, known to function in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, may have a role in neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Long non-protein-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathological processes of nervous system diseases. NONRATT021972 is an lncRNA. This study explores the effects of lncRNA NONRATT021972 small interference RNA (siRNA) on diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) mediated by the P2X7 receptor in the rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG). ⋯ NONRATT021972 siRNA treatment can decrease the expression levels of P2X7 mRNA and protein and inhibit the activation of satellite glial cells (SGCs) in the DRG of type 2 DM rats. Moreover, NONRATT021972 siRNA treatment reduced the release of inflammatory factors (TNF-α), thereby inhibiting the excitability of DRG neurons and reducing mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in type 2 DM rats.