Post‑surgical inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase attenuates the plantar incision‑induced postoperative pain behavior via spinal Akt activation in male mice

BMC Neuroscience, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-019-0521-9 · Published: July 23, 2019

Anesthesiology Neurology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

Postoperative pain is a common issue after surgery that current pain medications don't always effectively manage. This study explores a potential new approach by targeting a specific molecule, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which is known to play a role in pain pathways. The research focuses on how blocking PI3K after surgery affects pain behavior in mice, specifically looking at the activation of another molecule called Akt in the spinal cord. The study found that inhibiting PI3K after surgery reduced pain in male mice. This reduction in pain was linked to decreased activity of Akt in the spinal cord. This suggests that targeting PI3K could be a way to better understand and treat postoperative pain, particularly in male patients.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

224 male and 120 female Kunming mice

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Post-surgical inhibition of PI3K significantly reduced mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and cumulative pain scores in male mice after plantar incision.
2
Plantar incision induced a time-dependent activation of Akt in the spinal dorsal horn of male mice, and this activation was localized with neurons and microglia.
3
Post-surgical inhibition of PI3K attenuated the activation of spinal Akt induced by plantar incision in male mice, suggesting a link between PI3K inhibition and reduced Akt activation in pain relief.

Research Summary

This study investigated whether post-surgical inhibition of PI3K could alleviate postoperative pain (POP) and the underlying mechanisms in mice subjected to plantar incision. The results demonstrated that post-surgical inhibition of PI3K attenuated pain-related behaviors, such as mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, specifically in male mice. The study concludes that post-surgical inhibition of PI3K could attenuate pain by suppressing the activation of spinal Akt in male mice, suggesting a potential target for clinical studies.

Practical Implications

Targeted Pain Treatment

PI3K inhibition may offer a novel, non-opioid approach to managing postoperative pain, particularly in male patients.

Understanding Pain Mechanisms

Further research into the PI3K/Akt pathway can improve understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying postoperative pain and sex differences in pain processing.

Clinical Applications

These findings can inform the development of targeted therapies that address specific molecular pathways involved in pain, potentially leading to more effective and personalized pain management strategies.

Study Limitations

1
The study was primarily conducted on male mice, limiting the generalizability of the findings to female populations.
2
The precise mechanisms by which PI3K inhibition leads to Akt deactivation and pain relief require further investigation.
3
The study focused on plantar incision-induced pain; the effectiveness of PI3K inhibition for other types of postoperative pain needs to be explored.

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