Cited by 81Pain Mechanisms and TreatmentsGastrointestinal motility and disordersImmune Response and Inflammation

Toll-Like Receptor 4 Regulates Chronic Stress-Induced Visceral Pain in Mice

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Tramullas, Monica, Finger, Beate C., Moloney, Rachel D., Golubeva, Anna V., Moloney, Gerard, Dinan, Timothy G., Cryan, John F.·2014·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Background Functional gastrointestinal disorders, which have visceral hypersensitivity as a core symptom, are frequently comorbid with stress-related psychiatric disorders. Increasing evidence points to a key role for toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in chronic pain states of somatic origin. However, the central contribution of TLR4 in visceral pain sensation remains elusive.Methods With pharmacological and genetic approaches, we investigated the involvement of TLR4 in the modulation of visceral pain. The TLR4-deficient and wild-type mice were exposed to chronic stress. Visceral pain was evaluated with colorectal distension. Protein expression levels for TLR4, Cd11b, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (glial cells markers) were quantified in the lumbar region of the spinal cord, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus. To evaluate the effect of blocking TLR4 on visceral nociception, TAK-242, a selective TLR4 antagonist, was administered peripherally (intravenous) and centrally (intracerebroventricular and intra-PFC) (n = 10-12/experimental group).Results The TLR4 deficiency reduced visceral pain and prevented the development of chronic psychosocial stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Increased expression of TLR4 coupled with enhanced glia activation in the PFC and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines were observed after chronic stress in wild-type mice. Administration of a TLR4 specific antagonist, TAK-242, attenuated visceral pain sensation in animals with functional TLR4 when administrated centrally and peripherally. Moreover, intra-PFC TAK-242 administration also counteracted chronic stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity.Conclusions Our results reveal a novel role for TLR4 within the PFC in the modulation of visceral nociception and point to TLR4 as a potential therapeutic target for the development of drugs to treat visceral hypersensitivity.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.11.004

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Authors
Tramullas, M., Finger, B. C., Moloney, R. D., Golubeva, A. V., Moloney, G., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F.
Affiliations
University College Cork (IE)
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-08
Volume
76
Issue
4
Pages
340-348
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2005578275
Cited by
81
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 3
FWCI
5.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCrea (University of Cantabria) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
TLR4, visceral pain, chronic psychosocial stress, visceral hypersensitivity, TAK-242, prefrontal cortex, glial activation, inflammatory cytokines, visceral nociception, functional gastrointestinal disorders, spinal cord, hippocampus
MeSH terms
Analgesics, Animals, Chronic Disease, Dominance-Subordination, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Hippocampus, Lumbar Vertebrae, Male, Mice, Inbred C3H, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Spinal Cord, Stress, Psychological, Sulfonamides, Prefrontal Cortex, Mice, Knockout, CD11b Antigen, Toll-Like Receptor 4, Visceral Pain

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