Immunodominant fragments of myelin basic protein initiate T cell-dependent pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The myelin sheath provides electrical insulation of mechanosensory Aβ-afferent fibers. Myelin-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) damage the myelin sheath. The resulting electrical instability of Aβ-fibers is believed to activate the nociceptive circuitry in Aβ-fibers and initiate pain from innocuous tactile stimulation (mechanical allodynia). The precise molecular mechanisms, responsible for the development of this neuropathic pain state after nerve injury (for example, chronic constriction injury, CCI), are not well understood.

Methods and results

Using mass spectrometry of the whole sciatic nerve proteome followed by bioinformatics analyses, we determined that the pathways, which are classified as the Infectious Disease and T-helper cell signaling, are r

SUBMITTER: Liu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3416717 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature