Activation of MSK-1 Exacerbates Neuropathic Pain through Histone H3 Phosphorylation in the Rats’ Dorsal Root Ganglia and Spinal Dorsal Horn

The exact mechanism underlies the development of neuropathic pain is not yet completely understood. Mitogen and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK-1) is an important downstream kinase of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). It has been extensively studied in the central nervous system, but whether MSK-1 is associated with the neuropathic pain remains elusive. In this experiment, Lumbar 5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) was used to establish a neuropathic pain condition in the rats. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, intrathecal catheterization and drugs delivery were evaluated to study the physiological responses of the animals. The results showed that SNL resulted in elevated phosphorylated MSK-1 (p-MSK-1) expression in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the spinal dorsal horn in rats, while total MSK-1 (t-MSK-1) did not change significantly. Intrathecal injection of the MSK-1 inhibitor SB747651A partially reversed established neuropathic pain. Additionally, intrathecal administration of MSK-1 siRNA either preoperatively or 7 days postoperatively relieves the development and maintenance of pain, respectively. Meanwhile, the expression levels of p-H3S10, a downstream target of MSK-1, also displayed a significant increase after SNL. And these changes could be reversed by using MSK-1 siRNA. Collectively, the increase of MSK-1 induced by SNL participates in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain by regulating the expression of p-H3S10 in DRG and spinal dorsal horn. Concentrating on MSK-1 may result in a novel approach to the treatment of neuropathic pain.