Influence of chronic pain on some metabolic processes in the skin of female mice
Introduction. Studying the influence of chronic neurogenic pain (CNP) on the body is important, as it is a pathogenic factor triggering the mechanisms of homeostasis dysfunction. Since the skin status is closely associated to the state of the whole organism and functional activity of its systems, studying the specifics of metabolic processes in the skin under the influence of CNP is of much importance. Objective. To study the influence of CNP on the levels of growth factors, components of tissue plasminogen activation system, endothelins, biogenic amines, sex hormones and prolactin in the skin of mice. Materials and methods. The study included female С57ВL/6 mice at diestrus aged 8 weeks with the initial weight of 21-22 g. The main group (14 mice) received the sciatic nerve ligation on both sides, and intact females served as controls (14 mice). Two weeks after the surgery, all animals were decapitated, the skin was isolated and 10% homogenates were prepared. Levels of growth factors (VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-R1, VEGF-R3, IGF1, IGF2, TGF-β, FGF-21, EGF, EGFR), biogenic amines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, 5-HIAA, histamine), components of fibrinolysis, kallikreins, endothelins, hormones (estradiol, estrone, testosterone, free testosterone, progesterone, prolactin) were studied by ELISA. Results. The article analyzes modern views on the effect of CNP on some skin parameters: the system of growth factors, fibrinolytic system, biogenic amines, hormones, etc. The literature data are compared with our research results. Conclusions. The changes in the balance of biologically active substances in the skin under the influence of CNP due to the "activation" of protective mechanisms aimed at its restriction contribute to the formation of a metabolic "field", where the "seeds" of pathological processes are expressed differently; in particular, they can be activated and modified.