Astrocyte-specific NRCAM deficiency promotes GABAergic synapse pruning to drive central sensitization in bone cancer pain - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #astrocyte function
- #neuropathic pain
- #synaptic pruning
- Downregulation of NRCAM in reactive astrocytes contributes to the phagocytosis of inhibitory GABAergic synapses, disrupting synaptic balance and leading to central sensitization in bone cancer pain.
- Astrocytic activation and reduced NRCAM expression are linked to increased engulfment of GABAergic synapses, which worsens pain behaviors in a mouse model of bone cancer pain.
- Restoration of astrocytic NRCAM expression via AAV-mediated gene delivery suppresses excessive phagocytosis of GABAergic synapses and alleviates bone cancer pain.
- The study identifies astrocytic NRCAM-dependent synaptic pruning as a novel mechanism in bone cancer pain, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target for treatment.