Effects of nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin on HIV-gp120-associated neuropathic pain induced by the P2X3 receptor in dorsal root ganglia.

Abstract

HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Glycoprotein 120, gp120) can directly stimulate primary sensory afferent neurons and cause chronic neuropathic pain. The P2X3 receptor in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is associated with the transmission of neuropathic pain. Curcumin isolated from the herb Curcuma rhizome has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. The water solubility, targeting and bioavailability of curcumin can be improved by nanoparticle encapsulation. In this study, we sought to explore the effects of nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin (nano curcumin) on HIV-gp120-induced neuropathic pain mediated by the P2X3 receptor in DRG neurons. The results showed that mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in rats treated with gp120 were increased compared to those in the control group. The expression levels of P2X3 mRNA and protein in rats treated with gp120 were higher than those in the control group. Nano curcumin treatment decreased mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia and upregulated the expression levels of P2X3 mRNA and protein in rats treated with gp120. Nano curcumin treatment also reduced the ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in gp120-treated rat DRG. In addition, P2X3 agonist α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP)-induced currents in DRG neurons cultured with gp120 significantly decreased after co-treatment with nano curcumin. Therefore, nano curcumin treatment may inhibit P2X3 activation, decrease the sensitizing DRG primary afferents and relieve mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia in gp120-treated rats.

• Authors: Shanhong Zhao, Jinpu Yang, Xinyao Han, Yingxin Gong, Shenqiang Rao, Bing Wu, Zhihua Yi, Lifang Zou, Tianyu Jia, Lin Li, Huilong Yuan, Liran Shi, Chunping Zhang, Yun Gao, Guilin Li, Shuangmei Liu, Hong Xu, Hui Liu, Shangdong Liang
• Journal: Brain research bulletin (Brain Res Bull) Vol. 135 Pg. 53-61 (Oct 2017) ISSN: 1873-2747 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28962965 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• HIV Envelope Protein gp120
• Receptors, Purinergic P2X3
• gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
• Curcumin

Topics

• Animals
• Curcumin (administration & dosage, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Drug Delivery Systems (methods)
• Ganglia, Spinal (drug effects, metabolism)
• HIV Envelope Protein gp120 (drug effects, metabolism)
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Hyperalgesia (metabolism)
• Male
• Nanoparticles (therapeutic use)
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Neurons (drug effects)
• Pain Threshold (drug effects)
• Phosphorylation
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 (drug effects)