Interferon Regulatory Factor 8 Expressed in Microglia Contributes to Tactile Allodynia Induced by Repeated Cold Stress in Rodents

[摘要] References(15)Cited-By(2)We investigated the role of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) in a model of chronic pain in which repeated cold stress (RCS) exposure produces tactile allodynia. RCS exposure produced a decrease in paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to mechanical stimulation. Spinal microglia of RCS-exposed mice were morphologically activated. Expression of IRF8 was significantly increased in the spinal cord of RCS-exposed mice and was localized in microglia. IRF8-knockout mice failed to show the RCS-induced decrease in PWT. Thus, RCS exposure activates spinal microglia and upregulation of IRF8 in these cells is involved in the development of tactile allodynia after RCS exposure.

[学科分类] 药学

[关键词] interferon regulatory factor-8;microglia;repeated cold stress