Downregulation of ciRNA-Kat6b in dorsal spinal horn is required for neuropathic pain by regulating Kcnk1 in miRNA-26a-dependent manner

This study explores the role of a specific circular RNA (ciRNA-Kat6b) in neuropathic pain, a chronic pain condition resulting from nerve damage. The research identifies that ciRNA-Kat6b is particularly active in nerve tissues and its levels decrease in the spinal cord after nerve injury. The study found that reducing ciRNA-Kat6b in mice spinal cords led to increased levels of a microRNA called miRNA-26a. This increase, in turn, reduced the levels of a potassium channel protein called Kcnk1, which is known to play a role in pain hypersensitivity. The experiments involved manipulating ciRNA-Kat6b levels in mice to observe the effects on pain responses. Restoring ciRNA-Kat6b levels reduced pain, while decreasing it increased pain-like symptoms, suggesting ciRNA-Kat6b plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain development and maintenance.

• 1
  Peripheral nerve injury downregulates ciRNA-Kat6b in the dorsal spinal horn of male mice, and rescuing this downregulation alleviates CCI-induced pain hypersensitivities.
• 2
  Downregulation of ciRNA-Kat6b reduces the binding of miRNA-26a to ciRNA-Kat6b, elevating the binding of miRNA-26a to Kcnk1 mRNA, which reduces KCNK1 protein in the dorsal horn of neuropathic pain mice.
• 3
  The ciRNA-Kat6b/miRNA-26a/Kcnk1 pathway in dorsal horn neurons regulates the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain.