Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces expression of C/EBP-beta in primary afferent neurons following nerve injury

- C/EBP-beta is activated in the DRG neurons after spinal nerve injury.
- Activation of C/EBP-beta is paralleled with the development of hyperalgesia.
- TNF-alpha is involved in the activation of C/EBP-beta in the DRG neurons.

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta) is a transcription factor that belongs to the C/EBP family. To understand the role of C/EBP-beta in the peripheral nervous system, we investigated the expression of C/EBP-beta in the dorsal root ganglion. C/EBP-beta was weakly detected in nuclei of naive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Spinal nerve ligation increased the expression of C/EBP-beta in L4 and L5 DRG neurons. Treatment with anti-TNF-alpha prevented SNL-induced pain hypersensitivity and C/EBP-beta expression in the DRG. Injection of TNF-alpha into the sciatic nerve produced transient pain hypersensitivity and induction of C/EBP-beta expression in the DRG.These results demonstrate that C/EBP-beta is activated in the DRG neurons by a TNF-alpha-dependent manner and might be involved in the activation of primary afferent neurons after nerve injury.