IL-35 alleviates inflammation progression in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain via inhibition of JNK signaling

Emerging evidence has demonstrated that inflammation is involved in the occurrence and development of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP). The anti-inflammatory property of interleukin (IL)-35 makes it a promising candidate to block the pain perception. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether IL-35 could attenuate DNP in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model and its potential mechanism. The rat model of DNP was established by a single STZ injection followed by measurements of fasting blood glucose and insulin. Fourteen days after STZ injection, DNP rats were intrathecally injected with IL-35, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor or activator or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as vehicle control, respectively. The mechanical allodynia was assayed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of IL-35. In mechanism study, the serum and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines using ELISA and western blotting and the activation of JNK signaling were further evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Histopathologic changes were evaluated by Nissl staining. Apoptosis was examined using TUNEL staining. DNP rats exhibited increased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels and reduced insulin sensitivity index (ISI). Intrathecal injection of IL-35 reduced accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord of DNP rats. Furthermore, IL-35 displayed anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects via inhibition of JNK pathway. IL-35 treatment mitigated DNP via downregulating JNK signaling pathway.