Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 expression is increased in painful human dental pulp
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal studies and a few human studies have shown a change in sodium channel (NaCh) expression after inflammatory lesions, and this change is implicated in the generation of pain states. We are using the extracted human tooth as a mo...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Book |
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SAGE Publishing,
2008-04-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal studies and a few human studies have shown a change in sodium channel (NaCh) expression after inflammatory lesions, and this change is implicated in the generation of pain states. We are using the extracted human tooth as a model system to study peripheral pain mechanisms and here examine the expression of the Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 NaCh isoform in normal and painful samples. Pulpal sections were labeled with antibodies against: 1) Na<sub>v</sub>1.7, N52 and PGP9.5, and 2) Na<sub>v</sub>1.7, caspr (a paranodal protein used to identify nodes of Ranvier), and myelin basic protein (MBP), and a z-series of optically-sectioned images were obtained with the confocal microscope. Na<sub>v</sub>1.7-immunofluorescence was quantified in N52/PGP9.5-identified nerve fibers with NIH ImageJ software, while Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 expression in myelinated fibers at caspr-identified nodal sites was evaluated and further characterized as either typical or atypical as based on caspr-relationships.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results show a significant increase in nerve area with Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 expression within coronal and radicular fiber bundles and increased expression at typical and atypical caspr-identified nodal sites in painful samples. Painful samples also showed an augmentation of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 within localized areas that lacked MBP, including those associated with atypical caspr-identified sites, thus identifying NaCh remodeling within demyelinating axons as the basis for a possible pulpal pain mechanism.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study identifies the increased axonal expression and augmentation of Na<sub>v</sub>1.7 at intact and remodeling/demyelinating nodes within the painful human dental pulp where these changes may contribute to constant, increased evoked and spontaneous pain responses that characterize the pain associated with toothache.</p> |
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| Item Description: | 10.1186/1744-8069-4-16 1744-8069 |