Hydrogen Water Reduces Nerve Pain After Shingles in Rats
- Authors
- Hongtao Ma, Hongguang Chen, Aili Dong, Yanyan Wang, Yingxue Bian, Ke-Liang Xie
- Journal
- Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology
- Year
- 2017
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Post-herpetic Neuralgia
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline may help reduce nerve pain and inflammation in rats with post-herpetic neuralgia by activating a cellular cleanup process called autophagy.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced pain sensitivity and decreased inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in rats with post-herpetic neuralgia, with the effect appearing to depend on activation of autophagy pathways.
Summary
Researchers gave rats with post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain following shingles infection) injections of hydrogen-rich saline and measured their pain sensitivity and inflammation markers. Rats treated with hydrogen-rich saline showed reduced pain sensitivity and lower levels of inflammatory proteins in their spinal cords. The effect appeared to work by activating autophagy, a cellular cleanup process.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help reduce neuropathic pain through anti-inflammatory mechanisms, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Further research in human subjects would be needed to determine if similar effects occur in people with shingles-related nerve pain.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the role of autophagy in hydrogen-rich saline attenuating post-herpetic neuralgia( PHN) in rats. Methods: A total of 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into the five groups( n = 20) : control group,PHN group,PHN group treated with hydrogen-rich saline( PHN-H2group),PHN group treated with hydrogen-rich saline and3-MA( PHN-H2-3-MA group),PHN group treated with hydrogen-rich saline and rapamycin( PHN-H2-Rap group). PHN models were established by varicella-zoster virus( VZV) inoculation. After modeling,15 mg / kg 3-MA or 10 mg / kg rapamycin were intraperitoneally injected in corresponding rats with PHN once two days for 3 times. Hydrogen-rich saline( 10 m L / kg)was injected intraperitoneally twice a day for 7 consecutive days in PHN-H2 group,PHN-H2-3-MA group and PHN-H2-Rap group after VZV injection. The paw withdrawal thresholds( PWT) of 50 rats were detected at 3,7,14 and 21 days after modeling. Spinal cord enlargements of the other 50 rats were collected to examine tumor necrosis factor α( TNF-α),interleukine 1β( IL-1β) and IL-6 by ELISA and autophagy protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3( LC3),beclin 1and P62 by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control group,the rats in the PHN group presented with decreased PWT,increased levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,LC3Ⅱ and beclin 1,and down-regulated P62 expression. Compared with PHN group,the rats in the PHN-H2 group and PHN-H2-Rap group showed increased PWT,decreased levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,further up-regulated expressions of LC3 and beclin 1 as wel as P62 expression. Compared with PHN-H2 group,the rats in the PHN-H2-3-MA group had reduced PWT,elevated expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,suppressed expressions of LC3 and beclin 1,and enhanced p62 expression. Conclusion: Hydrogen-rich saline attenuated PWT and inhibited the release of cytokines TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 in rats with PHN via activating autophagy.