The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Methylcobalamin as a candidate for chronic peripheral neuropathic pain therapy: review of molecular pharmacology action

  • Amilia Ramadhani (Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada) ;
  • Indwiani Astuti (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health, Universitas Gadjah Mada) ;
  • Maria Goreti Widiastuti (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada) ;
  • Nunuk Purwanti (Department of Dental Biomedical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada)
  • Received : 2024.05.24
  • Accepted : 2024.09.04
  • Published : 2024.10.01
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Abstract

Chronic peripheral neuropathic pain therapy currently focuses on modulating neuroinflammatory conditions. Methylcobalamin (MeCbl), a neuroregenerative agent, modulates neuroinflammation. This review aimed to explore the molecular pharmacology action of MeCbl as a chronic peripheral neuropathic pain therapeutic agent. MeCbl plays a role in various cellular processes and may have therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases. Intracellular MeCbl modulates inflammation by regulating the activity of T lymphocytes and natural killer cells as well as secretion of inflammatory cytokines, namely, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, epidermal growth factor, and neuronal growth factor. MeCbl can reduce pain symptoms in chronic neuropathic pain conditions by decreasing excitation and hyperpolarization-induced ion channel activity in medium-sized dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the expression of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8, phosphorylated p38MAPK, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V members 1 and 4 in the DRG, and the voltage-gated sodium channel in axons.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This review was supported by Indonesian Education Scholarship from Center for Higher Education Funding of Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia and Indonesia Endowment Funds for Education of Ministry of Finance, Indonesia.

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