Calcitonin gene-related peptide contributes to peripheral nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity through CCL5 and p38 pathways.

The role of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in neuropathic pain was investigated in a mouse model of neuropathic pain, spinal nerve L5 transection (L5Tx). Intrathecal injection (i.t.) of CGRP8-37, a CGRP antagonist, significantly reduced L5Tx-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and lumbar spinal cord CCL5 expression. i.t. injection of a CCL5 neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited L5Tx-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Further, pre-treatment with a p38-inhibitor, SB203580, was able to reduce CGRP-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, but not CGRP-induced CCL5 production. Our data indicate that CGRP can play its pro-nociceptive role through both a spinal cord CCL5-dependent, p38-independent pathway, and a p38-depenented, CCL5-independent pathway.