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MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF AGING IN THE PERIPHERAL NOCICEPTIVE SYSTEM

Wang, Shuying (2007) MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF AGING IN THE PERIPHERAL NOCICEPTIVE SYSTEM. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF AGING IN THE PERIPHERAL NOCICEPTIVE SYSTEM Shuying Wang MD, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2006 Decreased pain sensitivity during aging is common in humans and animals and is largely due to changes in anatomical, functional and cellular properties of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). To understand the molecular mechanisms of aging in the PNS, a detailed comparative study was made of 6~8week-, 16month- and 2year-old Blk6 male mice obtained from the NIA mouse colony. Behavioral assays showed aged mice had decreased sensitivity to noxious heat and impaired inflammation-induced thermal hyperalgesia compared to young animals. To understand the basis for this change we examined expression of the growth factor artemin, its receptor GFRα3 and TRPV1, an ion channel expressed by 95~99% of GFRα3-positive sensory neurons. TRPV1 is of significance since it is required for transmission of thermal hyperalgesia following tissue inflammation. Assays showed a reduction in TRPV1 mRNA and protein in the PNS of aged mice that correlated with a decrease in expression of the artemin receptor GFRα3, CFA-induced inflammation also increased artemin expression in the skin but decreased expression of GFRα3 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of both young and old mice. The decrease in GFRα3 was greater in aged mice, suggesting GFRα3 signaling following CFA is reduced in sensory ganglia of old mice and that the response properties of GFRα3-positive sensory neurons that express TRPV1 are diminished. Calcium imaging of isolated primary neurons grown with NGF was used to test the in vitro effects of artemin on TRPV1 expression and activation in young and old neurons. Artemin potentiated TRPV1 activation by capsaicin in both young and old neurons, but the amplitude of capsaicin responses in young neurons was decreased with long-term exposure to artemin. Microarray and RT-PCR studies revealed that inflammation-associated genes such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) were elevated in sensory ganglia of aged mice. This ongoing inflammatory state may increase the inflammatory tone of the system and thereby contribute to changes in response properties and sensitivity of sensory neurons in the aging PNS. Thus, the reduced sensitivity to inflammatory pain in aged animals likely reflects a combination of changes in anatomical, physiologic and immune response properties.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Wang, Shuyingswmice@yahoo.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairAlbers, Kathryn Mkaa2@pitt.eduKAA2
Committee CoChairKoerber, H. Richardrkoerber@pitt.eduRKOERBER
Committee MemberDavis, Brian MDavisB@dom.pitt.eduBMD1
Committee MemberLagenaur, Carl Flagenaur@pitt.eduLAGENAUR
Committee MemberCard, J. Patrickcard@bns.pitt.eduCARD
Committee MemberScheff, Stephen Wsscheff@email.uky.edu
Date: 20 March 2007
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 14 December 2006
Approval Date: 20 March 2007
Submission Date: 27 November 2006
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Medicine > Neurobiology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Aging; Artemin; TRPV1; Inflammation; DRG; Pain; Calcium imaging
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-11272006-155805/, etd-11272006-155805
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 20:06
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:52
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9807

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