Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells can alleviate neuroinflammatory responses in rats with trigeminal neuralgia.

P2X7R is widely involved in the occurrence and development of pain. In this experiment, we used OECs to treat TN and found that they can produce biochemical effects similar to those of P2X7R inhibitors. We speculate that OECs may have therapeutic effects through the P2X7R/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway. [Display omitted] • This study found that OECs can alleviate trigeminal neuralgia by reducing inflammation in the trigeminal ganglia; • This study provides a new method for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia through cell transplantation; • This study suggests that the substances secreted by OECs have potential drug development potential, providing insights for the development of analgesic drugs. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common form of facial pain, which primarily manifests as severe pain similar to facial acupuncture and electric shock. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are glial cells with high bioactivity; these cells are essential for the periodic regeneration of the olfactory nerve and have been utilized for the repair of nerve injuries. A member of the P2X receptor family, P2X7R, is an ion channel type receptor that has been confirmed to participate in various pain response processes. In this study, we transplanted OECs into trigeminal nerve–model rats with distal infraorbital nerve ligation to observe the therapeutic effect of transplanted OECs in rats. Additionally, we utilized the P2X7R-specific inhibitor brilliant blue G (BBG) to study the therapeutic mechanisms of cell transplantation. The facial mechanical pain threshold of these rats significantly increased following cell transplantation. The immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-qPCR results demonstrated that the levels of P2X7R, (NOD)-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in the trigeminal ganglion of rats treated with OEC transplantation or BBG treatment were significantly lower than those in the injured group without treatment. Overall, our results demonstrate that OEC transplantation can alleviate TN in rats, and it can reduce the expression of P2X7R related inflammatory factors in TN rats, reducing neuroinflammatory response in TG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]