P2X7受体在嗅鞘细胞移植治疗/缓解三叉神经痛的作用及其机制研究

三叉神经痛(Trigeminal neuralgia,TN)是颜面部疼痛的常见病，尚无有效治疗方法。研究显示，髓鞘蜕变在三叉神经痛产生中起重要作用，但其发病机制尚不完全明确。嗅鞘细胞能分泌众多神经生长和营养因子，具有较好的促进髓鞘形成的作用。我们的前期研究表明嗅鞘细胞移植可减轻神经病理性疼痛大鼠的疼痛症状，并可抑制P2X7受体的过表达。鉴于P2X7受体在神经病理痛及髓鞘蜕变中的作用，我们推测嗅鞘细胞移植可通过抑制P2X7受体表达修复髓鞘，从而缓解三叉神经痛，然而P2X7受体在嗅鞘细胞移植治疗/缓解三叉神经痛的作用及其机制研究国内外未见相关报道。在本项目中，我们首先通过三叉神经痛动物模型，明确P2X7受体是否参与嗅鞘细胞移植缓解三叉神经痛；然后通过细胞实验并结合电生理学等研究明确P2X7受体在嗅鞘细胞移植缓解三叉神经痛的具体分子机理。为临床上治疗/缓解三叉神经痛提供新的理论基础和实验依据。

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a commonly seen condition of facial pain with no effective treatment methods. Studies show that the degeneration of the myelin sheath plays an important role in the generation of trigeminal neuralgia. However, its pathogenesis is unclear. Olfactory ensheathing cells can not only secrete many nerve growth and trophic factors, but also have a good effect on promoting myelin formation. Our previous studies have shown that olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can alleviate the pain symptoms of neuropathic pain in rats and inhibit the over-expression of the P2X7 receptor. As a result, given the role of P2X7 receptors in neuropathic pain and myelin degeneration, we hypothesize that olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can repair the myelin sheath by inhibiting the P2X7 receptor expression, and thus providing a means to relieve trigeminal neuralgia. However, there have not been any similar research reported domestically or abroad surrounding the role and mechanism of the P2X7 receptors in the treatment/relief of trigeminal neuralgia by olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation. In this project, we intially adopted an animal model of trigeminal neuralgia in order to clearly determine whether or not the P2X7 receptors are involved in olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation to alleviate trigeminal neuralgia. Then, through a combination of cell experimentation, electrophysiological study, and other studies, we clearly identified the specific molecular mechanism of the P2X7 receptor in the olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation to relieve trigeminal neuralgia. The purpose of this study is to provide a new theoretical and experimental basis for clinical treatments/relief of trigeminal neuralgia.