Galectin-1 is involved in the potentiation of neuropathic pain in the dorsal horn

Hiroki Imbe; Keiichiro Okamoto; Toshihiko Kadoya; Hidenori Horie; Emiko Senba

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2003.08.064

Galectin-1 is involved in the potentiation of neuropathic pain in the dorsal horn

Brain Res. 2003 Dec 12;993(1-2):72-83. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2003.08.064.

Authors

Hiroki Imbe¹, Keiichiro Okamoto, Toshihiko Kadoya, Hidenori Horie, Emiko Senba

Affiliation

¹ Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama 640-0012, Japan. imika@js9.so-net.ne.jp

PMID: 14642832
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2003.08.064

Abstract

Galectin-1 is one of the endogenous-galactoside-binding lectins, suggested to be involved in a variety of functions, such as neurite outgrowth, synaptic connectivity, cell proliferation and apoptosis. This protein is expressed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the spinal cord in the developing and adult rats, especially intensely in small DRG neurons. In the present study, we examined whether galectin-1 is colocalized with TrkA or c-Ret mRNA in small DRG neurons and the effect of axotomy on the expression of galectin-1 in the spinal cord. About 20% of the DRG neurons showed intense galectin-1-immunoreactivity (IR). Of the intensely galectin-1-IR DRG neurons, 93.9% displayed c-Ret mRNA positive signals. On the other hand, only 6.8% displayed TrkA mRNA positive signals. Galectin-1-IR was increased in the dorsal horn at 1 to 2 weeks after axotomy. Intrathecal administration of anti-recombinant human galectin-1 antibody (anti-rhGAL-1 Ab) partially but significantly attenuated the upregulation of substance P receptor (SPR) in the spinal dorsal horn and the mechanical hypersensitivity induced by the peripheral nerve injury. These data suggest that endogenous galectin-1 may potentiate neuropathic pain after the peripheral nerve injury at least partly by increasing SPR in the dorsal horn.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies / pharmacology
Axotomy / methods
Behavior, Animal
Blotting, Western / methods
Carrier Proteins / genetics
Carrier Proteins / metabolism
Cell Count
Functional Laterality
Galectin 1 / immunology
Galectin 1 / physiology*
Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization / methods
Ligation / methods
Locomotion / physiology
Lumbosacral Region
Male
Membrane Proteins / genetics
Membrane Proteins / metabolism
Pain / metabolism*
Pain / physiopathology
Pain Threshold / drug effects
Posterior Horn Cells / metabolism*
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
Receptor, trkA*
Sciatic Nerve / injuries
Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
Sciatic Nerve / physiopathology
Spinal Cord / cytology*
Spinal Cord / metabolism
Statistics, Nonparametric
Substance P / metabolism
Time Factors
Up-Regulation

Substances

Antibodies
Carrier Proteins
Galectin 1
Membrane Proteins
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Substance P
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Receptor, trkA
Ret protein, rat