Fig. 2

TNF-α mediated the increase of Nav1.6 expression following L5-VRT. a Representative blots and histogram showed the upregulation of TNF-α following L5-VRT. n = 5 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group. b The fluorescence intensity by staining with anti-TNF-α antibody was lower in the sections than by preincubating the antibody with TNF-α peptide. n = 3 per group, Scale bar, 50 μm. c The double immunofluorescence staining showed the colocalization of TNF-α with Nav1.6. n = 3 per group, Scale bar, 50 μm. d Intrathecal injection of TNF-α neutralizing antibody significantly increased the withdrawal threshold in rats with L5-VRT. n = 12 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. e Continuous intraperitoneal application of the TNF-α inhibitor thalidomide significantly relieved L5-VRT-induced mechanical allodynia. n = 12 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. f Representative blots and histogram showed the expression of Nav1.6 was decreased after intraperitoneal application of the TNF-α inhibitor thalidomide. n = 5 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the sham group, ##P < 0.01 versus the corresponding L5-VRT group. g The incubation with TNF-α increased the expression of Nav1.6 and p-STAT3 in cultured DRG neurons. n = 6 per group, **P < 0.01 versus the vehicle group