Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of STAT3/SDF⁃1 signaling pathway of spinal dorsal horn neurons in postoperative chronic pain. Methods A SMIR animal model，with or without antiSDF ⁃1 and S3I⁃201 intrathecally，was established. Mechanical withdrawal threshold on the ipsilateral side before and after operation，expression level of SDF⁃1 and STAT3，and cell location in the spinal dorsal horn were observed. In addition，ChIP was used to detect the interaction between STAT3 and SDF⁃1 promoter. Results The mechanical withdrawal threshold of rats on the 5th，10th，and 20th day after operation was significantly reduced，accompanied by up⁃regulation of the expression of SDF⁃1 and p⁃STAT3 in the spinal dorsal horn neurons，and all co⁃stained with Neun⁃positive neurons. AntiSDF⁃1 and S3I⁃201 pretreatment alleviated the changes in the mechanical withdrawal threshold after SMIR，and S3I ⁃201 also reduced the upregulation of SDF ⁃1 transcription and translation after surgery. After SMIR，the combination of STAT3 and SDF⁃1 promoter in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was in⁃ creased. Conclusions STAT3/SDF⁃1 signaling pathway of spinal dorsal horn neurons is involved in the formation of postsurgical chronic pain.

Key words:

skin/muscle incision and retraction, stromal cell ?derived factor 1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, postoperative pain