High-frequency terahertz stimulation alleviates neuropathic pain by inhibiting the pyramidal neuron activity in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice
Wenyu Peng,
Pan Wang,
Chaoyang Tan,
Han Zhao,
Kun Chen,
Huaxing Si,
Yuchen Tian,
Anxin Lou,
Zhi Zhu,
Yifang Yuan,
Kaijie Wu,
Chao Chang,
Yuanming Wu,
Tao Chen
Affiliations
Wenyu Peng
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
Pan Wang
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Chaoyang Tan
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Han Zhao
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Kun Chen
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Huaxing Si
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Yuchen Tian
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
Anxin Lou
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
Zhi Zhu
Laboratory of Optical Technology and Instrument for Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Yifang Yuan
Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing, China
Kaijie Wu
Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, China; School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
Chao Chang
Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing, China; School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system and is characterized by abnormal hypersensitivity to stimuli and nociceptive responses to non-noxious stimuli, affecting approximately 7–10% of the general population. However, current first-line drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and opioids have limitations, including dose-limiting side effects, dependence, and tolerability issues. Therefore, developing new interventions for the management of NP is urgent. In this study, we discovered that the high-frequency terahertz stimulation (HFTS) at approximately 36 THz effectively alleviates NP symptoms in mice with spared nerve injury. Computational simulation suggests that the frequency resonates with the carbonyl group in the filter region of Kv1.2 channels, facilitating the translocation of potassium ions. In vivo and in vitro results demonstrate that HFTS reduces the excitability of pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex likely through enhancing the voltage-gated K+ and also the leak K+ conductance. This research presents a novel optical intervention strategy with terahertz waves for the treatment of NP and holds promising applications in other nervous system diseases.
