Involvement of TRPM7 Channel on the Induction of Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Mice: Protective Role of Selenium and Curcumin

Excessive levels of the mitochondrial reactive oxygen radical (mitSOX) and Ca2+ influx were found to cause neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Naltriben (NLT) and mitSOX activate the transient receptor (TRP) melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel, but antioxidants and carvacrol inhibit it. Selenium (Se) and curcumin (CRC) have been thoroughly studied for their modulator effects on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neuropathic pain, apoptosis, and oxidative stress through the blockage of TRP channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. It has not yet been fully understood how Se and CRC protect against STZ-induced neuropathic pain by modulating TRPM7. Here, we assessed how Se and CRC affected the Ca2+ influx, mitSOX-mediated oxidative damage, and apoptosis in the DRGs of mice through modifying TRPM7 activity. Seven groups (control, Se, CRC, STZ, STZ + Se, STZ + CRC, and STZ + Se + CRC) were induced from the 56 male mice. We observed that the STZ-induced stimulation of TRPM7 increased mechanical neuropathic pain (von Frey), thermal neuropathic pain (hot plate), cytosolic Ca2+, TRPM7 current density, TRPM7 expression, lipid peroxidation, mitSOX, cytosolic ROS, apoptosis, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 concentrations, whereas Se and CRC therapies diminished the alterations. The STZ-mediated decreases of DRG viability, brain glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, vitamin A, and vitamin E concentrations were also upregulated in the treatment groups by the therapies. These findings collectively imply that an imbalance of neuropathic pain, oxidative neurotoxicity, and apoptosis in the mice is caused by the STZ-mediated activation of TRPM7. However, the downregulation of TRPM7 activity caused by the injections of Se and CRC reduced the neurotoxicity and apoptosis.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of selenium and curcumin on STZ-induced neuropathic pain in mice by modulating TRPM7 activity. The results showed that STZ activation of TRPM7 led to neuropathic pain, oxidative neurotoxicity, and apoptosis in the mice. However, treatment with selenium and curcumin reduced these effects by downregulating TRPM7 activity.