Sustained neuronal stimulation activates paraventricular thalamus astrocytes for maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain in mice

Ongoing nociceptive inputs from peripheral tissues and nerve injuries lead to maladaptive alterations in central nervous system, which drive the transition from acute to chronic pain. Although astrocytes act as dynamic and active players in neuropathic pain states, the contribution of astrocytes in upper brain nucleus in this process remains unclear. Here, we ?revealed that prolonged neuronal inputs induced by periphery injury leads to astrocyte reactive and downregulation of inward rectifying potassium channel protein 4.1 (Kir4.1) in paraventricular thalamus(PVT). In turn, reactive PVT astrocytes could maintain the hyperexcitability of neurons, and enhanced projections from PVT to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the chronicity of neuropathic pain. Notably, we identify a neuro-glial interaction mediating pain chronification in PVT, and clarified Kir4.1 channels as a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain treatment. Overall design: RNA-seq profiling of the PVT(paraventricular thalamus) tissues of two groups of CCI(Chronic constriction injury) model mice (n=30) and wild-type controls (n=30).