Exercise combined with ultrasound attenuates neuropathic pain in rats associated with downregulation of IL-6 and TNF-α, but with upregulation of IL-10

Po Ching Huang, Kun Ling Tsai, Yu Wen Chen, Heng Teng Lin, Ching Hsia Hung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although there are several evidences that suggest efficacies of therapeutic ultrasound (TU) or treadmill exercise (TE) to alleviate nerve injury - associated pain, molecular mechanisms are less clear. We aimed to investigate the impact of TU and/or TE on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and their roles of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into (n = 10 per group) sham operation (sham), CCI procedure followed by false application of TU (CCI + TU0), CCI procedure followed by false application of TU and TE (CCI + TU0 + TE), CCI, and CCI procedure followed by TU alone (CCI + TU), TE alone (CCI + TE), or both TU and TE (CCI + TU + TE) groups. TU and TE were administered daily, starting on postoperative day 8 (POD 8) for 3 weeks. Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and IL-6 in the sciatic nerve were assessed on PODs 14 and 28. Data were analyzed by 1-way, 2-way, or 3-way analysis of variance of repeated measures or 1-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: After the interventions, there was statistical significance (all P ≤.0001) between the groups for all outcome parameters, all in favor of the experimental group: 4.2 for mean mechanical withdrawal thresholds (95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.6) and 4.8 for mean thermal withdrawal latencies (95% confidence interval, 2.2-8.1). TU and/or TE provoked an increase in mechanical withdrawal thresholds and thermal withdrawal latencies in CCI rats. TU + TE was more effective to reverse pain hypersensitivity than having each treatment alone. On PODs 14 and 28, the CCI rats exhibited an upregulation of sciatic TNF-α and IL-6 expression, whereas TU or TE alone or TU + TE combination prevented the upregulation. TU and/or TE also showed the upregulation of less IL-10 expression in the sciatic nerve. CONCLUSIONS: We found that TU + TE is better than TU or TE alone for treating neuropathic pain. TU and/or TE for pain management may be straightly associated with less TNF-α and IL-6 expression and more IL-10 expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2038-2044
Number of pages7
JournalAnesthesia and analgesia
Volume124
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Jun 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Exercise combined with ultrasound attenuates neuropathic pain in rats associated with downregulation of IL-6 and TNF-α, but with upregulation of IL-10'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this