TNF-α Differentially Regulates Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus and Spinal Cord by Microglia-Dependent Mechanisms After Peripheral Nerve Injury

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2017 Jan 27

PMID 28123022

Citations 147

Authors

Yong Liu

Li-Jun Zhou

Jun Wang

Dai Li

Wen-Jie Ren

Jiyun Peng

Xiao Wei

Ting Xu

Wen-Jun Xin

Rui-Ping Pang

Yong-Yong Li

Zhi-Hai Qin

Madhuvika Murugan

Mark P Mattson

Long-Jun Wu

Xian-Guo Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Significance Statement: Chronic pain is often accompanied by memory deficits. Previous studies have shown that peripheral nerve injury produces both neuropathic pain and memory deficits and induces long-term potentiation (LTP) at C-fiber synapses in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) but inhibits LTP in hippocampus. The opposite changes in synaptic plasticity may contribute to chronic pain and memory deficits, respectively. However, the structural and molecular bases of these alterations of synaptic plasticity are unclear. Here, we show that the complexity of excitatory synaptic connectivity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression are enhanced in SDH but reduced in the hippocampus in neuropathic pain and the opposite changes depend on tumor necrosis factor-alpha/tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 signaling and microglial activation. The region-dependent synaptic alterations may underlie chronic neuropathic pain and memory deficits induced by peripheral nerve injury.

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