Chemical interactions between fibrosarcoma cancer cells and sensory neurons contribute to cancer pain.

ABSTRACT: In an experimental model of cancer pain, the hyperalgesia that occurs with osteolytic tumor growth is associated with the sensitization of nociceptors. We examined functional and molecular changes in small-diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons to determine cellular mechanisms underlying this sensitization. The occurrence of a Ca2+ transient in response to either KCl (25 mM) or capsaicin (500 nM) increased in small neurons isolated from murine L3-L6 DRGs ipsilateral to fibrosarcoma cell tumors. The increased responses were associated with increased mRNA levels for the Ca2+ channel subunit alpha2delta1 and TRPV1 receptor. Pretreatment with gabapentin, an inhibitor of the alpha2delta1 subunit, blocked the increased response to KCl in vitro and the mechanical hyperalgesia in tumor-bearin

SUBMITTER: Khasabova IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6672679 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature