Targeting LncRNA-­Vof16: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Neuropathic Pain Relief

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic pain resulting from nerve damage or lesion. Despite the ongoing efforts of clinically defining NP, its distinctive mechanisms that lead to various NP phenotypes remain unresolved. This study investigated the role of Vof16 in sensory function and nociceptive behaviors associated with neuropathic pain resulting from peripheral nerve injury. It was found that Vof16 expression was downregulated in SNI model elevating spinal neuronal hyperexcitability and hyperalgesia in rats, and its disruption aggravated the nociceptive symptoms. The findings suggested that Vof16 might act as an endogenous pain inhibitor and neuromodulator in the context of neuropathic pain.

• 1
  SNI led to the downregulation of Vof16 expression in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of lumbar enlargement.
• 2
  Disrupting Vof16 enhances the intrinsic excitability of spinal neurons, although it does not induce hyperalgesia in non-­SNI state.
• 3
  Conditional overexpression of Vof16 in spinal neurons alleviates hyperalgesia and neuronal hyperexcitability induced by SNI.