Involvement of Spinal <scp>CC</scp> Chemokine Ligand 5 in the Development of Bone Cancer Pain in Rats

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of spinal <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content> chemokine ligand 5 (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCL</jats:styled-content>5) in the development of bone cancer pain (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BCP</jats:styled-content>). A <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BCP</jats:styled-content> model was established by inoculation of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">W</jats:styled-content>alker 256 cells into the intramedullary space of rat tibia. The levels of spinal <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCL</jats:styled-content>5 <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">mRNA</jats:styled-content> and protein expression significantly and time dependently increased in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BCP</jats:styled-content> rats compared with sham rats. On day 15 after inoculation, intrathecal administration of anti‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCL</jats:styled-content>5 neutralizing antibody (4 μg) significantly attenuated the established mechanical hyperalgesia in the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">W</jats:styled-content>alker 256 cells‐injected rats, and the effect was abolished by intrathecal pre‐treatment with recombinant rat <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCL</jats:styled-content>5 (0.2 μg). These results suggest that the spinal <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CCL</jats:styled-content>5 may be involved in the development of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BCP</jats:styled-content>. The findings of this study may provide an evidence for developing novel analgesic agents to treat <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">BCP</jats:styled-content>.</jats:p>