Research Paper Volume 14, Issue 12 pp 5013—5022
Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction can prevent and treat oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain by TNFα/IL-1β/IL-6/MAPK/NF-kB pathway
- 1 Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
- 2 Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110085, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
- 3 The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110085, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
- 4 Department of Gynecology Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
- 5 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
- 6 Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
Received: February 9, 2021 Accepted: August 17, 2021 Published: June 27, 2022
https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203794How to Cite
Copyright: © 2021 Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objective: This study explored the effects and mechanisms of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP).
Methods: Bodyweight and related behavioral testing of the rat model were utilized to investigate the effects of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction on CINP. ELISA was used to measure the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in the serum of chronic CINP rats. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of MAPK pathway related-proteins namely ERK1/2, p38, and JNK, and the expression of downstream essential proteins such as c-Fos, CREB, and NF-κB.
Results: Body weight and related behavioral testing of the rat model suggests that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction can improve the slow weight gain of oxaliplatin-induced chronic CINP model rats and effectively prevent and treat oxaliplatin-induced regular CIPN rat model of hyperalgesia. It can also oppress the mechanical pain threshold, cold pain threshold, and heat pain threshold decreased. Furthermore, by ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis, we found that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction can down-regulate the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the serum of chronic CINP rats induced by oxaliplatin. It also suppresses the expression of MAPK pathway related-proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK. This results in a decrease in the expression of downstream essential proteins, c-Fos, CREB, and Nf-κB.
Conclusions: In conclusion, we found that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction can combat nerve cell injury, reduce pain sensitization, and prevent and repair the damage of nerve cells in the oxaliplatin CINP model rats via TNFα/IL-1β/IL-6/MAPK/NF-kB pathway.
Abbreviations
CINP: chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain; SD: Sprague-Dawley; IHC: immunohistochemistry.