Proteomic analysis of spinal dorsal horn in prior exercise protection against neuropathic pain

Scientific Reports, 2025 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86661-0 · Published: January 13, 2025

Pain Management Bioinformatics Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how prior exercise affects protein expression in a rat model of neuropathic pain (NP). Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition caused by nerve damage. The researchers aimed to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind the protective effect of exercise against NP. Rats were divided into three groups: a group with nerve injury (CCI), a group with nerve injury and prior swimming training (CCI_Ex), and a sham group. The study looked at the protein profiles in the spinal dorsal horn of these rats using proteomic analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The study found that prior exercise significantly increased pain thresholds in rats with nerve injury. Proteomic analyses revealed potential target proteins and pathways involved in this process, suggesting that exercise may help alleviate neuropathic pain by modulating specific molecular mechanisms.

Study Duration

6 weeks swimming training before CCI surgery, 4 weeks after operation

Participants

24 male Sprague–Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Prior exercise significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) in rats with CCI, indicating a reduction in pain sensitivity.
2
Proteomic analysis identified 122 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after CCI surgery and 55 DEPs in the comparison between the CCI_Ex and CCI groups.
3
GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that oxygen transport capacity and the complement and coagulation cascades may be critical mechanisms by which prior exercise protects against neuropathic pain.

Research Summary

This study explores the protective effect of prior exercise against neuropathic pain (NP) in rats by examining protein expression changes in the spinal dorsal horn using proteomic analysis. The findings suggest that prior exercise can significantly alleviate pain hypersensitivity induced by nerve injury, with potential molecular mechanisms involving oxygen transport, complement and coagulation cascades, and key proteins like Serpina1, Albumin, and DHX9. The study provides valuable data and new insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of NP, highlighting the potential of exercise as a preventive measure and identifying specific proteins for further investigation.

Practical Implications

Public Health

Maintaining an active lifestyle with regular exercise may offer protection against neuropathic pain development following peripheral nerve injuries.

Therapeutic Targets

Identified proteins such as Serpina1, DHX9, and Alb may serve as potential therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain treatment, especially for patients unable to engage in exercise.

Clinical Efficacy

Prior exercise could be used as a prehabilitation strategy to improve clinical outcomes and accelerate pain relief in individuals at risk of or experiencing neuropathic pain.

Study Limitations

1
The study only assessed proteomic changes at a single time point (4 weeks after CCI), limiting the understanding of dynamic protein regulation over time.
2
The study focused exclusively on male rats, and the findings may not be directly applicable to female rats without further investigation.
3
Objective evaluations like serum cortisol level, forced swimming, and tail suspension behavior tests were not performed.

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