MicroRNA-128-3p Alleviates Neuropathic Pain Through Targeting ZEB1.

Neuropathic pain is defined as a chronic pain. It could be resulted from a lesion of nervous systems. MicroRNAs have been reported to modulate multiple genes and pathways in neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation. Therefore, identifying the potential expression patterns of microRNAs under neuropathic pain conditions is significant. miR-128-3p has been identified in many cancers. But, its biological role in neuropathic pain progression remains poorly known. Currently, we aimed to explore the possible functions of miR-128-3p in the modulation of neuropathic pain. We displayed in the CCI rats, miR-128-3p was greatly down-regulated in the spinal cord tissues and the isolated microglias. Subsequently, LV-miR-128-3p could attenuate CCI-triggered mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Meanwhile, some common pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced while anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased by miR-128-3p. Here, in the current investigation, by utilizing dual-luciferase reporter assays, ZEB1 was proved as a direct target of miR-128-3p. LV-miR-128-3p significantly repressed ZEB1 expression in microglia of CCI rats. Moreover, ZEB1 was reported to be increased in CCI rats. miR-128-3p rescued the effects of ZEB1 on neuropathic pain progression via inhibiting neuroinflammation. Taken these together, we implied miR-128-3p alleviated the progression of neuropathic pain via modulating ZEB1.