Capsaicin-Sensitive Peptidergic Sensory Nerves Are Anti-Inflammatory Gatekeepers in the Hyperacute Phase of a Mouse Rheumatoid Arthritis Model

Capsaicin-sensitive peptidergic sensory nerves play complex, mainly protective regulatory roles in the inflammatory cascade of joints via neuropeptide mediators, but mechanisms hyperacute arthritis phase has not been investigated. Therefore, we studied involvement these afferents early, “black box” period a rheumatoid (RA) mouse model. fibres were defunctionalized by pretreatment with ultrapotent capsaicin analog resiniferatoxin and was induced K/BxN arthritogenic serum. Disease severity assessed clinical scoring, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst chemiluminescent, vascular permeability fluorescent vivo imaging. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging used to correlate functional morphological changes. After desensitization, both early ROS-burst leakage significantly enhanced, which later followed increased scores. Furthermore, found be good predictors severity. We conclude that anti-inflammatory role depends on their activity phase, characterized decreased cellular components presumably release. might serve as important gatekeepers RA.