Jararhagin is a hyperalgesic
metalloproteinase from
Bothrops jararaca venom. In rodents,
jararhagin induces nociceptive behaviors that correlate with an increase in peripheral
cytokine levels. However, the role of the spinal cord glia in
pain processing after peripheral stimulus of
jararhagin has not been investigated. Aiming to explore this proposal, mice received intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of
jararhagin and the following parameters were evaluated:
hyperalgesia, spinal cord TNF-α, IL-1β levels, and CX3CR1, GFAP and p-NFκB activation. The effects of intrathecal (i.t.) injection of TNF-α soluble receptor (
etanercept),
IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and inhibitors of NFκB (
PDTC), microglia (
minocycline) and astrocytes (α-aminoadipate) were investigated.
Jararhagin inoculation induced
cytokine production (TNF-α and IL-1β) in the spinal cord, which was reduced by treatment with
PDTC (40% and 50%, respectively).
Jararhagin mechanical hyperalgesia and
cytokine production were inhibited by treatment with
etanercept (67%),
IL-1Ra (60%),
PDTC (70%),
minocycline (60%) and α-aminoadipate (45%). Furthermore,
jararhagin induced an increase in p-NFκB, CX3CR1 and GFAP detection in the spinal cord indicating activation of NFκB, microglia and astrocytes. These results demonstrate for the first time that
jararhagin-induced
mechanical hyperalgesia is dependent on spinal cord activation of glial cells, consequent NFκB activation, and
cytokine production in mice.