Neural Inflammation in Thoracic Dorsal Root Ganglia Mediates Cardiopulmonary Spinal Afferent Sensitization in Chronic Heart Failure.

ABSTRACT: The cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR) and pulmonary spinal afferent reflex (PSAR) amplify sympathetic activity and may contribute to chronic heart failure (CHF). We hypothesized that neural inflammation in thoracic dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) drives cardiopulmonary afferent sensitization through suppression of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels after myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced in rats by coronary ligation. Molecular profiling, immunofluorescence, tissue clearing, and functional assays were used to assess neuroinflammation and reflex responses. Post-MI, thoracic DRGs showed macrophage infiltration, glial activation, cytokine upregulation, and reduced Kv channel expression. Bulk RNA-seq identified enrichment of macrophage activation-related genes, and in vitro stud

SUBMITTER: Hong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12633454 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature