The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of nervous fibers and expression of TRP channels in samples harvested during decompressive/fusion spine surgeries from patients affected by chronic low back pain (CLBP). The aim was to understand if members of this family of receptors played a role in detection and processing of painful stimuli, to eventually define them as potential targets for CLBP alleviation. Expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (A1, V1, V2, V4, and M8) was evaluated in samples from different periarticular sites of 6 patients affected by CLBP, at both protein and transcript levels. The capsular connective pathological tissue appeared infiltrated by sensitive unmyelinated nervous fibers. An increase in TRP channel mRNAs and proteins was observed in the pathological capsule compared with tissues collected from the non-symptomatic area in five of the six analyzed patients, independently by the location and number of affected sites. In particular, TRPV4 and TRPM8 were consistently upregulated in pathological tissues. Interestingly, the only patient showing a different pattern of expression also had a different clinical history. TRPV4 and TRPM8 channels may play a role in CLBP and warrant further investigations as possible therapeutic targets.

本研究的目的是调查在减压/融合脊柱手术期间从受慢性腰痛 (CLBP) 影响的患者身上采集的样本中神经纤维的存在和 TRP 通道的表达。目的是了解该受体家族的成员是否在疼痛刺激的检测和处理中发挥作用，最终将它们定义为缓解 CLBP 的潜在目标。瞬时受体电位 (TRP) 通道（A1、V1、V2、V4 和 M8）的表达在来自 6 名受 CLBP 影响的患者的不同关节周围部位的样本中进行了评估，包括蛋白质和转录水平。包膜结缔病理组织似乎被敏感的无髓神经纤维浸润。与从无症状区域收集的 6 名分析患者中的 5 名组织相比，在病理包膜中观察到 TRP 通道 mRNA 和蛋白质的增加，这与受影响部位的位置和数量无关。特别是，TRPV4 和 TRPM8 在病理组织中始终上调。有趣的是，唯一表现出不同表达模式的患者也有不同的临床病史。TRPV4 和 TRPM8 通道可能在 CLBP 中发挥作用，值得进一步研究作为可能的治疗靶点。唯一表现出不同表达模式的患者也有不同的临床病史。TRPV4 和 TRPM8 通道可能在 CLBP 中发挥作用，值得进一步研究作为可能的治疗靶点。唯一表现出不同表达模式的患者也有不同的临床病史。TRPV4 和 TRPM8 通道可能在 CLBP 中发挥作用，值得进一步研究作为可能的治疗靶点。