Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 contributes to the interleukin-33-mediated cold allodynia in a mouse model of neuropathic pain

Cold allodynia is a common complaint of patients suffering from neuropathic pain initiated by peripheral nerve injury. However, the mechanisms that drive neuropathic cold pain remain elusive. In this study, we show that the interleukin (IL)-33/ST2 signaling in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is a critical contributor to neuropathic cold pain by interacting with the cold sensor transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8). By using the St2-/- mice, we demonstrate that ST2 is required for the generation of nociceptor hyperexcitability and cold allodynia in a mouse model of spared nerve injury (SNI). Moreover, the selective elimination of ST2 function from the Nav1.8-expressing nociceptor markedly suppresses SNI-induced cold allodynia. Consistent with the loss-of-function studies, intraplantar injection of recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) is sufficient to induce cold allodynia. Mechanistically, ST2 is co-expressed with TRPM8 in both mouse and human DRG neurons and rIL-33-induced Ca2+ influx in mouse DRG neurons through TRPM8. Co-immunoprecipitation assays further reveal that ST2 interacts with TRPM8 in DRG neurons. Importantly, rIL-33-induced cold allodynia is abolished by pharmacological inhibition of TRPM8 and genetic ablation of the TRPM8-expressing neurons. Thus, our findings suggest that the IL-33/ST2 signaling mediates neuropathic cold pain through downstream cold-sensitive TRPM8 channels, thereby identifying a potential analgesic target for the treatment of neuropathic cold pain.