Alkbh5 Relieves Trigeminal Neuralgia by Regulating p-ERK Expression

Abstract

Objective: To establish the action and mechanism of action of Alkbh5 on trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Methods: Infraorbital nerve-chronic compression injury (ION-CCI) rat model was established, and the expression of Alkbh5 (Alk B homolog 5) in the trigeminal ganglion of rats was detected. The study was divided into six groups, namely, the sham group, the experimental group, the injection group of Alkbh5 overexpressing adeno-associated virus (M+OE-A), the injection group of Alkbh5 overexpressing control virus (M+OE-NC (overexpressing control virus)), the injection group of Alkbh5 interfering control virus (M+sh-NC), and the injection group of Alkbh5 interfering adeno-associated virus (M+sh-A). Each group included six rats, and the mechanical pain threshold of rats in each group was detected. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase). Results: The relative expression level of Alkbh5 and the mechanical pain threshold of rats in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the sham group 4 d, 7 d and 14 d after modeling (p < 0.05). The relative expression level of Alkbh5 in the M+OE-A group was significantly higher than that in the M+OE-NC group. The mechanical pain thresholds on days 4, 7 and 14 of modeling in the M+OE-A group were significantly higher than those in the M+OE-NC group (p < 0.05). The relative expression level of Alkbh5 in the M+sh-A group was significantly lower than that in the M+sh-NC group. The mechanical pain thresholds of the M+sh-A group were significantly lower than those of the M+sh-NC group 14 d after modeling (p < 0.05). The protein expression levels of p-ERK in the experimental group and M+OE-NC group were significantly higher than that in the sham group, and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) in M+OE-A group were lower than those in the experimental group and M+OE-NC group (p < 0.05). The protein expression levels of p-ERK in the experimental group and M-sh-NC group were higher than that in the sham group, and the protein expression levels of p-ERK in the M+sh-A group were higher than those in the experimental group and M-sh-NC group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Alkbh5 can alleviate the mechanical hyperalgesia of the trigeminal neuralgia rat model, by negatively regulating the expression of p-ERK.