中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2019, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (1): 79-81.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.243710

• 观点:退行性病与再生 • 上一篇    下一篇

神经元微血管活化和由此产生的类风湿性关节炎功能障碍是否会导致慢性疼痛

  

  • 出版日期:2019-01-15 发布日期:2019-01-15

Do neuronal microvascular activation and resultant dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis contribute to chronic pain?

Nicholas Beazley-Long   

  1. Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre & School of Life Sciences, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  • Online:2019-01-15 Published:2019-01-15
  • Contact: Nicholas Beazley-Long, BSc, PhD, nicholas.beazley-long@nottingham.ac.uk.
  • Supported by:

    Work contained within this article was funded by Arthritis Research UK [grant number 21338].

摘要:

orcid: 0000-0001-7342-2771 (Nicholas Beazley-Long)

Abstract:

Microvascular dysfunction and rheumatoid arthritis (RA):Across the UK severe osteoarthritis affects ~5–7% and RA affects ~1% of the population. These are the most common causes of disabling chronic pain and are major burdens on in-dividuals and society. Consequently, the annual financial cost to the UK economy for arthritis is in the billions of pounds. People living with painful inflammatory conditions and in particular RA are at an increased risk of mortality caused by cardiovascular disease which is of a magnitude similar to that caused by diabetes. The endothelial dysfunction underlying cardio-vascular disease in RA also affects endothelia throughout the body causing a diverse range of diseases including those that are metabolic and renal in nature, and the pathogenesis and worsening of these diseases are intricately linked to dysfunc-tional endothelia. Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk are also linked to cognitive deficits in RA. Depression is another co-morbidity of RA and has been linked to increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα). All three of these cytokines are associated with endothelial activation and endothelial dysfunction. For example TNFα, which is a potent endothelial activator, also causes endothelial cell apoptosis and this can be inhibited by endothelial cytoprotectants such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-a (VEGF-A). Tar-geting endothelial activation is able to prevent the spread of pain in rodent models of inflammatory arthritis indicating that the spread of neuronal sensitiza-tion is dependent on the action of the microvasculature. This has led to the hypothesis that neuronal microvascular acti-vation and ensuing dysfunction could drive the chronic pain experienced by people living with RA. This invited perspec-tive discusses the main research that has led to the formation of this hypothesis and the caveats of targeting endothelial activation via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2). In doing so, I hope to shine the spotlight on the potential role of neurovasculatur e as a driver of chronic pain in inflammatory conditions.