Peripheral nerve resident macrophages and schwann cells mediate cancer-induced pain A C

Abstract

Although macrophages (M≉) are known to play a central role in neuropathic pain, their contribution to cancer pain has not been established. Here we report that depletion of sciatic nerve resident M≉s (rM≉) in mice attenuates mechanical/cold hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain evoked by intraplantar injection of melanoma or lung carcinoma cells. M≉-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) was upregulated in the sciatic nerve trunk and mediated cancer-evoked pain via rM≉ expansion, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) activation, and oxidative stress. Targeted deletion of Trpa1 revealed a key role for Schwann cell TRPA1 in sciatic nerve rM≉ expansion and pain-like behaviors. Depletion of rM≉s in a medial portion of the sciatic nerve prevented pain-like behaviors. Collectively, we identified a feed-forward pathway involving M-CSF, rM≉, oxidative stress, and Schwann cell TRPA1 that operates throughout the nerve trunk to signal cancer-evoked pain.