Fig. 4.
TNF-α via activating STAT3 upregulated Nav1.6 expression in DRG. a The immunofluorescence staining showed the colocalization of p-STAT3 with Nav1.6 in DRG. n = 3 per group, Scale bar, 50 μm. b The increase of Nav1.6 induced by L5-VRT was reduced by intrathecal injection of STAT3 activity inhibitor S3I-201. n = 5 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. c A marked green fluorescence in the restricted DRG of mice was observed on day 21 after AAV-Cre-GFP injection. n = 3 per group, Scale bar, 50 μm. d Intrathecal injection of AAV-Cre-GFP decreased the STAT3 expression in the STAT3flox/flox mice. n = 5 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. e Mechanical allodynia induced by L5-VRT was inhibited in AAV-Cre-GFP-injected STAT3flox/flox mice. n = 12 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. f Intrathecal injection of the AAV-Cre-GFP into the STAT3flox/flox mice significantly decreased the Nav1.6 increase induced by L5-VRT. n = 5 rats per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. g Increase of Nav1.6 induced by TNF-α incubation was reduced by S3I-201 in cultured DRG neurons. n = 6 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the vehicle group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding TNF-α group