Chronic pain is one of the highest costs in clinical
therapy, often appearing comorbid with depression. They present with overlapping clinical conditions and common pathological pathways especially in
neuroinflammation, both of which can be reversed by
electroacupuncture (EA). Transient receptor potential
V1 receptor (TRPV1) is a Ca[Formula: see text] permeable
ion channel that responds to
brain inflammation and has a known role in the development of
chronic pain and depression. Here, we investigate the role of TRPV1 and its related molecules in a mouse model of
inflammation-induced
chronic pain and depression using Complete
Freund's adjuvant (CFA). We measured inflammatory mediators in plasma and evaluated the TRPV1 signaling pathway in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hypothalamus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the mouse brain. Mechanical and
thermal hyperalgesia as well as depressive-like behaviors were induced using the open field test and forced swimming test.
Therapeutic effects were observed in EA and Trpv1[Formula: see text] mice in measures of
chronic pain and depression. Inflammatory mediators induced by CFA injection were attenuated by EA and Trpv1 deletion. TRPV1 and downstream molecules were significantly decreased in the mPFC, hypothalamus, and PAG of mice, effects which were reversed by EA and Trpv1 knockout. We provide novel evidence that these inflammatory mediators modulate the TRPV1 signaling pathway and suggest new potential therapeutic targets for
chronic pain and depression.