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Distinct microglial transcriptional responses during opioid exposure or neuropathic pain [rat]

ABSTRACT: In settings of heightened pain sensitivity, such as following peripheral nerve injury (PNI) or opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), microglia take on an activated phenotype. Functional studies have suggested that microglia activated by PNI or chronic opioids then engage common mechanisms to facilitate pain. Here we conducted RNA sequencing of acutely isolated spinal cord microglia to comprehensively interrogate commonality between PNI and OIH. By combining our results with meta-analysis of published datasets, we identify transcriptional signatures of microglial reactivity that differ between PNI models over time, opioid exposure, or CNS pathology, despite similar histological outcomes. Collectively, these results reveal a discrepancy between histological markers of activation and transcriptional response, and provide a resource of pain-associated microglial transcriptomes that caution against a universal signature of microglia activation.

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE117319 | GEO | 2022/01/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Opioids analgesics are frequently prescribed in the United States and worldwide. However, serious side effects such as addiction, immunosuppression and gastrointestinal symptoms limit their use. It has been recently demonstrated that morphine treatment results in significant disruption in gut barrier function leading to increased translocation of gut commensal bacteria. Further study indicated distinct alterations in the gut microbiome and metabolome following morphine treatment, contributing to the negative consequences associated with opioid use. However, it is unclear how opioids modulate gut homeostasis in the context of a hospital acquired bacterial infection. In the current study, a mouse model of C. rodentium infection was used to investigate the role of morphine in the modulation of gut homeostasis in the context of a hospital acquired bacterial infection. Citrobacter rodentium is a natural mouse pathogen that models intestinal infection by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and causes attaching and effacing lesions and colonic hyperplasia. Morphine treatment resulted in 1) the promotion of C. rodentium systemic dissemination, 2) increase in virulence factors expression with C. rodentium colonization in intestinal contents, 3) altered gut microbiome, 4) damaged integrity of gut epithelial barrier function, 5) inhibition of C. rodentium-induced increase in goblet cells, and 6) dysregulated IL-17A immune response. This is the first study to demonstrate that morphine promotes pathogen dissemination in the context of intestinal C. rodentium infection, indicating morphine modulates virulence factor-mediated adhesion of pathogenic bacteria and induces disruption of mucosal host defense during C. rodentium intestinal infection in mice. This study demonstrates and further validates a positive correlation between opioid drug use/abuse and increased risk of infections, suggesting over-prescription of opioids may increase the risk in the emergence of pathogenic strains and should be used cautiously. Therapeutics directed at maintaining gut homeostasis during opioid use may reduce the comorbidities associated with opioid use for pain management.

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Distinct microglial transcriptional responses during opioid exposure or neuropathic pain [rat]

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