Algesic MBP peptide induce pain-specific signaling in rodent Schwann Cells. Algesic MBP peptide induce pain-specific signaling in rodent Schwann Cells

We demonstrated the pain-specific response to the algesic peptide fragment MBP84-104 of myelin basic protein that induces pain if injected into sciatic nerve of rats and mice. We used the wild-type peptide MBP 84-104, H89G mutant peptide (MBP84-104-H89G), scramble peptide (MBP84-104-SCR) and phosphomimetic peptide MBP84-104-mimTT to stimulate the primary rat Schwann cell cultures. After 24h we isolated total RNA and conducted genome wide RNA-seq. In addition, we performed RNA-seq using Schwann cells constitutively expressing an MBP84-104-mCherry construct. The gene expression data was analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. We conclude that the Schwann cells expressing MBP84-104 constructs stimulate pain-specific signaling pathways thus representing a relevant model to study neuropathic pain. Overall design: examination of gene expression in Schwann cells stimulated by MBP fragment