Functional neural-bone marrow pathways: implications in hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract

HomeHypertensionVol. 63, No. 6Functional Neural–Bone Marrow Pathways Free AccessResearch ArticlePDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessResearch ArticlePDF/EPUBFunctional Neural–Bone Marrow PathwaysImplications in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Jasenka Zubcevic, Monica M. Santisteban, Teresa Pitts, David M. Baekey, Pablo D. Perez, Donald C. Bolser, Marcelo Febo and Mohan K. Raizada Jasenka ZubcevicJasenka Zubcevic From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , Monica M. SantistebanMonica M. Santisteban From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , Teresa PittsTeresa Pitts From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , David M. BaekeyDavid M. Baekey From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , Pablo D. PerezPablo D. Perez From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , Donald C. BolserDonald C. Bolser From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author , Marcelo FeboMarcelo Febo From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author and Mohan K. RaizadaMohan K. Raizada From the Departments of Physiology and Functional Genomics (J.Z., M.M.S., M.K.R.) and Psychiatry (P.D.P., M.F.), College of Medicine; and Department of Physiological Sciences (T.P., D.M.B., D.C.B.), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville. Search for more papers by this author Originally published31 Mar 2014https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.02440Hypertension. 2014;63:e129–e139Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: January 1, 2014: Previous Version 1 Treatment-resistant hypertension (TRHT) is characterized by persistently high arterial blood pressure (BP), partly as a result of a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (ANS), wherein sympathetic drive/norepinephrine spillover is increased and parasympathetic drive is decreased.1–3 The difficulty in treatment of TRHT arises precisely from this partly neurogenic component because the available drug therapies do not target the central nervous system (CNS) directly. Because of this and despite recent advances in techniques such as renal denervation and carotid baroreceptor activation,4,5 successful treatment and long-term control of TRHT remain challenging.6 In an attempt to develop more effective treatments, many groups are investigating specific causes of TRHT. A large body of experimental evidence implicates both genetic and environmental influences, such as salt sensitivity and elevated systemic renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity7–14 in the pathophysiology of this disease. Furthermore, a majority of studies point to dysregulations in the activity within the cardiorespiratory brain regions as a reason for increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic drive to the peripheral organs,14–21 resulting in end-organ damage,21–25 vascular/endothelial dysfunction,26,27 and hormonal imbalance,28 which perpetuate the pathophysiology and complicate treatment strategies. Despite our increasing understanding of TRHT, the origins of this brain dysregulation remain largely unknown. Recently, the activity of the immune system29–31 and neuroimmune pathways in patients with hypertension and animal models of hypertension has been highlighted.32–36 Studies suggest that both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic arms of the ANS can exert their influence on the activity of the immune organs, tissues, and cells, and that it is the dysfunctional ANS-immune communication that may lead to hypertension and CVD.35–40 The aim of this review is to summarize the latest advances in this field and review the current understanding of connections between the autonomic and immune systems, specifically the connections between the brain and the bone marrow (BM), the largest source of hematopoietic cells in the body. In addition, we will highlight the importance of BM activity in CVD and hypertension, and propose novel bidirectional brain–BM communication hypothesis whose dysfunction may have important implications in the development of therapeutic strategies for neurogenic TRHT.Role of BM in Cardiovascular Health and DiseaseBM is central in the regulation of hematopoiesis.41,42 It constitutes ≈4% of the total body mass in humans, produces ≈500 billion hematopoietic cells each day, and accounts for ≈90% of total hematopoiesis in the body.41,42 BM hematopoietic stem and progenitors cells (HSPCs) interact with cells of secondary lymphoid organs such as the spleen, which regulate the HSPC differentiation and maturation.43–46 Readily available BM-derived cells are released into the circulation diurnally or in response to diverse pathophysiological cues such as vascular or tissue injury.37,47–51 The involvement of BM and HSPCs in CVD and hypertension has attracted significant attention in the last decade for several reasons. First, CVD has been linked with an overactive adaptive immune system. Increased inflammation has been reported in heart disease, stroke, vascular diseases, and hypertension in both humans and animal models.29–31,36,37,52–59 In fact, a correlation exists between elevated inflammatory responses and disease progression,31,57,60,61 and immunosupression can delay or even arrest the progression of CVD.62–67 Second, after an acute injury, the BM cells with angiogenic and reparative properties such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs)17,68–73 are immediately recruited to the site of injury, aiding in repair of the tissue damage.74–78 Unfortunately, some patients with advancing CVD and other related diseases have significantly decreased pools of EPCs,79,80 and this decreased vascular potential further exacerbates the dysfunctional vasculature already seen in CVD. Third, an overactive RAS is implicated in exaggerated immune system responses in human patients as well as animal models of CVDs.14,17,81–83 In angiotensin II (Ang II)-dependent hypertension, increased systemic and splenic inflammatory cells and factors have a central role in initiation and maintenance of hypertension,17,35,40,82,84 presumably by conferring damage on the vasculature as a result of decreases in vascular repair–relevant progenitor cells. Consistent with this are observations that antihypertensive effects of the RAS inhibitors have been shown to improve the number and function of EPCs in CVD.71,85,86 Collectively, these data suggest a correlation between BM HSPCs and inflammation in development of CVD.We have recently proposed that it is not only the increased inflammatory damage but also the imbalance in the BM-derived immune cell-dependent vascular damage and endothelial cell-driven vascular repair is central to cardiovascular pathophysiology.17,32,33,36 For example, the hypertensive phenotype of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is characterized by chronically elevated inflammation and downregulated BM-derived EPC number and function, as evidenced by the decreased ability of the EPCs to proliferate and migrate to the site of the damage, as well as the loss of EPC angiogenic ability.36 Additionally, data suggest that central effects of Ang II–induced hypertension involve an increase in the BM-derived inflammatory cells (ICs), as well as a decrease in BM-derived EPC number and function, which cannot be attributed to secondary effects of systemic hypertension.14,17 Therefore, the decrease in the EPC count coupled with their decreased function may perpetuate vascular damage in hypertension. One mechanism through which overactive Ang II in hypertension may affect the BM HSPC activity is by having a direct effect on the HSPC stemness, through promotion of premature differentiation.41,42 This would diminish the angiogenic and reparative abilities of HSPCs, thereby compromising vascular repair. Furthermore, our data have shown that Ang II undermines the ability of HSPCs to home to the BM niches,87 which could further compromise their angiogenic functions. The increase in inflammatory stress can also directly reduce the function and activity of EPCs,88,89 as evidenced by clinical data demonstrating that anti-inflammatory drugs and antioxidants exert beneficial effects on the EPCs.89 Although a transient inflammatory response may in fact stimulate EPC mobilization, thereby promoting tissue repair,90 evidence suggests that chronic systemic inflammation may lead to functional impairment of EPCs and their depletion.91–93 In line with this is the observation that treatment with BM-derived mononuclear cells does not improve neurological recovery after stroke in the SHR, which is characterized by both increased systemic inflammation and elevated RAS, perhaps because of the high inflammation, which remained widespread in these animals.94 Taken together, it is reasonable to suggest that systemic RAS may act distinctly from its well-established classic effects to both increase ICs and decrease EPCs.It is evident from the above discussion that production, mobilization, and release of cells from the BM is critical in maintaining regular vascular homeostasis, and that dysregulation at any stage in these processes leads to devastating cardiovascular consequences. However, it is important to point out that some discrepancies exist in the literature. For example, there are studies that did not find a difference in EPCs between healthy and hypertensive humans,95 whereas others linked dysfunctional EPCs only with hypertension that was associated with other comorbidities.96,97 In one such study Delva et al95 found no significant differences in EPC numbers and function between a group of carefully selected patients exhibiting a hypertensive phenotype and control subjects. However, this patient group may have had less severe hypertension because their treatment used no more than 2 antihypertensive medications, namely RAS and beta blockers, both of which may directly affect the function of EPCs.69,71,98,99 The patients with hypertension also were treated with aspirin, known for its beneficial vascular effects65,66 including those benefiting the EPC function directly.100 These and other studies pinpoint the complexity of the problem of TRHT, and further highlight the need for novel therapeutic targets. Some of the most relevant questions arising from the evidence to date are whether the BM activity is regulated by the brain, and if the dysfunctional brain–BM communication could account for CVD and hypertension.Evidence of ANS Regulation of BM ActivityThe first evidence of the importance of ANS for BM cell homeostasis is derived from the circadian studies, which demonstrated the regulation of BM cell activity.36 It is well established that the release of BM HSPCs is rhythmically regulated in a circadian manner, for which sympathetic drive is essential.36,47–50,101,102 In rodents, the increase in sympathetic drive at night is associated with the release of the surveillance immune cells from the BM, which circulate through the body in search of an infection or injury.36,47 The return of these cells to the BM signals the release of the repair cells aimed to heal and repair.47,102 However, in cases of prolonged infections or otherwise compromised immune responses, the accumulation and aging of the surveillance immune cells in the circulation leads to the loss of the trigger for release of the repair cells into the circulation.47 Clinically, this may translate into a diminished ability of the body to repair itself in times of sustained inflammatory damage. Furthermore, loss of circadian rhythmicity of the BM cell release seems to be closely tied to any dysfunction in the sympathetic drive.36 For example, the loss of the circadian rhythmicity observed in diabetes mellitus–related peripheral neuropathy is attributed to the decreased sympathetic drive to the BM and results in dysfunctional BM EPCs.102 On the contrary, our studies have demonstrated that elevated sympathetic drive to the BM results in a perturbed BM adrenergic receptor signaling system that is associated with loss of circadian rhythmicity in BM cell release.36 Therefore, we infer that the BM HSPC environment is tightly regulated, which allows it to respond quickly to an environmental change or injury, but which can also result in adaptation and plasticity of the BM cell responses, ultimately contributing to a pathological state. In the context of hypertension, we propose that the chronic elevation in the BM sympathetic drive leads to the loss of circadian rhythmicity of the BM cell release, resulting in chronically elevated systemic inflammatory responses and decreased EPC availability and function.36 Therefore, clinical targeting of the elevated sympathetic drive in neurogenic hypertension could have a new dimension.The second body of evidence highlighting the importance of ANS in BM function comes from studies demonstrating increases in inflammatory cells in several disease states. Most recently, Dutta et al37 described the role of increased sympathetic drive in recruitment of BM cells after postmyocardial infarction. Their data showed that increased sympathetic drive to the BM after myocardial infarction caused the liberation of the BM HSPCs, which seeded in the spleen and boosted the production of monocytes. The increase in monocyte production and their infiltration caused the development of larger, destabilized atherosclerotic plaques with a more advanced morphology, resulting in higher incidence of recurrent myocardial events as well as increased incidence of stroke.37 In a similar fashion, inflammatory cells have been shown to infiltrate the brain and contribute to the neuropathology in several diseases, including CVD.103–107 Although the exact mechanism underlying the extravasation of inflammatory cells into the CNS is still an area of active research, several hypotheses are under investigation. First, an increase in chemoattractant proinflammatory molecules, such as chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2, have been shown to be associated with the increase in BM-derived microglia and monocytes in the CNS.104,106 BM monocytes will home in on areas of the brain where the concentration of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 is the highest. Whether this process involves the breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is still debated. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is associated with BM-derived microglia infiltration into areas of the brain where the BBB had been compromised.106 However, other groups have shown that the infiltration of BM monocytes into the brain is independent of the BBB integrity.108 Therefore, it seems that although the breakdown of BBB would facilitate the infiltration of BM-derived cells into the brain, it is not necessary for this process to occur. In diabetes mellitus, for example, infiltration of BM-derived monocyte progenitors in the brain presympathetic areas contributes to the increased pool of activated inflammatory microglia and subsequent neurovascular-glial inflammatory status.104 Our preliminary data support this contention in the hypertension paradigm as well.109 Studies on the mechanism of the infiltration of BM cells into the brain of hypertensive animals are underway but could be because of a combination of BBB breakdown as described by Stern110 and increased chemoattractant, proinflammatory molecules.111,112 Although all the differences between BM-derived and resident microglia have yet to be elucidated, there is one fundamental difference. Resident microglia work to survey their environment become activated and help to repair acute injuries.113–115 BM-derived microglia have only been described to move to the CNS in chronic conditions, indicating that either their role is only important in the long-term pathophysiology of neuroinflammation or there are age-related effects on the homing of BM cells to the brain.116 The role of activated microglia in several important neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory diseases is well established17,103–107,112,117,118; however, their influence on presympathetic neurons in the context of established CVD with chronically high sympathetic drive is currently understudied.Our recent observations in rodent models of Ang II–dependent hypertension lead us to suggest that activation of microglia in the presympathetic cardioregulatory brain areas may precede both the activation of the sympathetic drive and the increase in BP. Therefore, activation of microglia may be a crucial step in generation of high sympathetic drive to the periphery including the BM.32,33 This concept does not disregard the effects of direct Ang II action on the presympathetic neurons, which has been firmly established in neurogenic hypertension.7,14,15,119 It is plausible to suggest that the healthy cardioregulatory system is capable of regulating its own responses to sporadic Ang II challenges, until these are intensified and aided by other environmental prohypertensive insults. Consistent with this idea, an important characteristic of the microglial cell is that it exhibits characteristics of a memory immune cell of the brain, meaning that it can be primed for activation.120,121 Therefore, several prohypertensive signals may be required for microglial cell differentiation into a fully active proinflammatory stage, characterized by increased proliferation, migration, and release of cytokines/neurotransmitters that will subsequently affect the state of the surrounding presympathetic neurons. This will lead to increased sympathetic drive to the periphery, including to the BM, causing dysfunction in BM cell activity.17 Dysfunctional BM cell activity will contribute to decreased repair and increased inflammation, and consequently result in the infiltration of the immune cells to the brain, thereby perpetuating cardiovascular pathophysiology in a feed-forward manner.32These observations support the role of increased sympathetic drive in recruitment and regulation of BM cells. Evidence also exists for a role of the parasympathetic nervous system in regulation of BM-induced inflammation. Stimulation of the vagus nerve protects from excessive cytokine production and ameliorates experimental inflammatory disease via the inflammatory reflex mechanism. This involves activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 (nAchRα7) on macrophages, lymphocytes, neurons, and other cells.122 This inflammatory reflex has been described in the spleen, gut, and, recently, the BM, where it has been shown that deficiency of the BM nAchRα7 impaired vagus nerve–mediated regulation of the proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in a mechanism dependent on the BM-derived macrophages.38,39,51,122–125 In support of these data, our recent study has demonstrated a decrease in both acetylcholine esterase and cholinergic acetyl transferase in the BM of the SHR compared with the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY), in addition to increased BM sympathetic drive.36 As acetylcholine seems to block the acute and direct effects of norepinephrine on the release of BM ICs, this would suggest that the anti-inflammatory parasympathetic effects directly oppose the proinflammatory effects of the sympathetic drive on the BM.36 Interestingly, the vagal influence is reduced in hypertension; potentially further exacerbating the proinflammatory state. There is no evidence of direct vagal projections to the BM, and the parasympathetic effects are most likely to be endocrine and delivered via the BM extensive vasculature (Figure 1). Alternatively, the vagus may be indirectly affecting the BM by modulating the activity of the BM postganglionic sympathetic nerves because it has been suggested in other lymphoid tissues126 (Figure 1). Future studies should elucidate the cellular and neuronal mechanisms of the reduced parasympathetic drive in the hypertension-related inflammatory responses in the BM, and whether the cholinergic receptor system is as tightly regulated as the adrenergic receptors in the BM.Download figureDownload PowerPointFigure 1. Bidirectional communication between the brain and the bone marrow (BM) in cardiovascular homeostasis. Prohypertensive signals such as elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) lead to neurovascular-glial inflammation in the brain cardioregulatory areas. Dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (ANS) output is characterized by elevation in the sympathetic and a decrease in the parasympathetic drive to the periphery, including the BM. This process is coupled with elevated peripheral Ang II and causes a persistent increase in the inflammatory cell (IC) and decrease in endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs). The elevated ICs contribute to the vascular and tissue damage, whereas decreased EPC count and function contribute to the decreased repair of this damage, leading to cardiorenal pathology. The combination of extravasation of the ICs to the presympathetic brain areas and the increased somatic afferent input from the BM to the brain, via activation of the putative transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channels, adds to the neurovascular-glial inflammation and drives the dysfunctional ANS output to the periphery. These events perpetuate the resulting cardiovascular and renal pathophysiology and resistant hypertension. BP indicates blood pressure; PNS, parasympathetic nervous system; SNS, sympathetic nervous system.The evidence discussed above suggests that increased sympathetic drive to the BM, in conjunction with decreased parasympathetic influence, may initiate a cascade of signaling events culminating in dysfunctional BM cell activity and leading to hypertension.36 The increase in sympathetic nerve activity in prehypertensive animal models and humans supports this contention.1–3,127 However, direct measurements of BM sympathetic nerve activity in the prehypertensive state must be performed to confirm this hypothesis. Nonetheless, cumulative evidence supports the view that the ANS has profound influence on the BM that could be detrimental in hypertension and other CVD.Afferent Input From BM to the BrainIn the previous section, we have discussed the efferent brain–BM pathway and the role of the ANS in regulation of the BM cell activity in health and CVD. Our data, discussed below, support the concept that an afferent neuronal input from the BM to the brain may also exist and may be involved in modification of the ANS efferent pathway to the periphery, including the BM. This bidirectional brain–BM communication hypothesis is based on the following evidence; first, we used an anaesthetized and nonparalyzed cat model to investigate the effects of a localized, bolus BM injection of capsaicin (0.1 mL) on cardiorespiratory variables. We observed that capsaicin injection into the BM produced an immediate dose-dependent BP elevation, accompanied by apneusis, as evidence by the diaphragm and thyropharyngeus muscle electromyography recordings and measurement of end-tidal CO2 levels (Figure 2A). These responses were enhanced by microinjection of kynurenic acid in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS; Figure 2B), suggesting that neural processing of the capsaicin-sensitive BM afferent projection may involve the NTS. Second, we used a decerebrated artificially perfused rat preparation36 to measure direct electrophysiological effects of a similar capsaicin injections in the femoral BM of a rat on the vagal and sympathetic efferent drive in situ. We found that, in addition to the similar capsaicin-dependent effects produced on breathing, as evidenced by the changes in the phrenic and hypoglossal nerve activity, capsaicin also immediately elevated the perfusion pressure, and affected both the efferent vagal and the thoracic sympathetic nerve activity (Figure 3B). This observation suggests that capsaicin-sensitive BM afferents may modulate the ANS efferent drive. Capsaicin also produced delayed, longer lasting cardiorespiratory responses in both the cat and the rat (not shown), but these were attributed to the systemic capsaicin effects. Last, we used functional MRI in an anaesthetized rat to image the brain stem regions, which may directly be stimulated by the capsaicin-sensitive BM afferent activation. We observed that a single femoral BM capsaicin injection in the anaesthetized rat greatly enhanced neuronal activity in the brain stem nuclei including the trigeminal sensory nucleus (Sp5), locus coeruleus, as well as the cardioregulatory brain stem nuclei such as the NTS and the nuclei of ventrolateral medulla, as measured by the functional MRI (Figure 3A). These are persuasive evidence for the existence of an afferent BM–brain neural connection, which, when activated, may centrally modify the ANS efferent signaling to the periphery.Download figureDownload PowerPointFigure 2. A, Respiratory (diaphragm and thyropharyngeus muscle electromyographic activity), end-tidal CO2, and blood pressure responses produced by a single capsaicin injection in the left femur of a freely breathing anesthetized cat. Injections of 250 μmol/L and 500 μmol/L capsaicin in the bone marrow produced significant apneusis characterized by a prolonged inspiratory activity and caused an immediate increase in the blood pressure in a dose–response manner. B, Bilateral microinjection of kynurenic acid (50 nL; 100 mmol/L) in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract before the capsaicin injection in the bone marrow produced a prolonged apneusis lasting >60 seconds and an increase in the blood pressure by >40 mm Hg. These data suggest existence of a direct afferent sensory input from the bone marrow to the brain cardiorespiratory regions. NTS indicates nucleus of the solitary tract.Download figureDownload PowerPointFigure 3. A, Increase in the blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) signal in the brainstem regions (locus coeruleus [LC], rostral ventrolateral medulla [RVLM], nucleus of the solitary tract [NTS], caudal ventrolateral medulla [CVLM], spinal trigeminal nucleus [sp5]) following a single capsaicin injection (0.1 mL, 500 μmol/L) in the left femur of an anesthetized rat. Data are represented as 2-dimensional BOLD activation map highlighting the magnitude BOLD response (left column in A). Functional image is overlaid on T2 anatomic scan or an electronic atlas of the rat brain (right column in A). B, A 3-dimensional (3D) volumetric rendition shows the volume of activation in brainstem nuclei (top). Below, 3D maps are BOLD signal time courses for various nuclei. C, Respiratory (phrenic), vagal, hypoglossal, and thoracic sympathetic nerve activities, and perfusion pressure (corresponding to arterial pressure) after a single capsaicin injection (0.1 mL, 500 μmol/L; marked by a line) in the left femur of a decerebrated, artificially perfused in situ rat preparation.Capsaicin activates the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels, expressed in primary sensory nerve fibers of both the somatic and autonomic afferent neurons.128 The role of capsaicin-sensitive TPRV1 channels has been well described in relation with pain perception, and more specifically with the bone-related pain such as during different forms of cancer.129 The bone itself is innervated with the A and C fibers,130 and secretion of substances such as growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines from tumor cells within the bone stimulate the primary afferent nociceptors and induce pain.131–133 Proinflammatory cytokines suggested to be involved in cancer-related bone pain include interleukin-1β, TNFα, interleukin-6, transforming growth factor β, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1,134–137 all of which have been implicated in hypertension-related inflammatory responses.32 TNFα is shown to sensitize the TRPV1 channels in the bone, causing deregulations of TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons and hyperalgesia,136 whereas upregulation of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the tumor-burdened femur bone correlates with the severity of tumor progression and pain.137 Furthermore, activation of microglial C-X3-C motif receptor 1 receptors by the fractalkine-producing spinal cord neurons mediates pain during the carcinoma growth in rat ti