Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41943069›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroinflammation2026

Activation of the NR3C1-STAT3-SLC6A2 signaling axis by a cyanidin-3-O-glucoside-enriched anthocyanin preparation attenuates neuroinflammation and pain hypersensitivity in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Bao Xue, Gao-Lin Qiu, Peng He, Ruo-Fei Chen, Wei Duan, Lu Gao, Long Chen, Cun-Zhi Wang, Tian-Hang Yu, Chun-Lei Chen and 20 more

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of neuroinflammation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

30 authors.

Bao Xue *Department of Orthopedics, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201620, China.
Gao-Lin Qiu *Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Peng He *Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Ruo-Fei Chen *Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Wei DuanDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Lu GaoDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Long ChenDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Cun-Zhi WangCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
Tian-Hang YuCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
Chun-Lei ChenCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
Wen-Ping TangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Ting-Ting ShiDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Wen-Bao MaoDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Hui WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Yang HongCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
Shi FengDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Xiao-Yu ShiDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Fang-Fang DingDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Jing KeDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Yuan WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Li ZhuangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Qian-Qian LuanDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Wan-Yan XuDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Li-Na WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Jia-Feng XuCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
You-Lin TuDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
Guan-Jun ChenCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China.
Hua-Bao CaiCenter for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China. ahmudrtsai@fy.ahmu.edu.cn.
Xian-Xiang WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. yfy108846@fy.ahmu.edu.cn.
Qiang CaiDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. yfy1083186@fy.ahmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Anhui Provincial Department of Education YJS20230074
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIVDD is a major global health burden and a leading cause of chronic low back pain, yet disease-modifying therapies remain limited. Anthocyanins are natural anti-inflammatory compounds with potential neuroprotective activity, but their roles in IVDD-related neuroinflammation and nociceptive sensitization are unclear.

methodsAnthocyanins used in this study were a commercially standardized preparation (≥ 98% purity), in which cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) constituted the predominant component as confirmed by LC–MS analysis. IVDD was established by needle puncture in rats and conditional Cre–loxP mice. Mechanical and thermal pain behaviors were assessed, and disc pathology was evaluated by imaging and histological/biochemical analyses. IL-1β–stimulated NP cultures and NP–DRG co-cultures were used to model neuron–disc interactions. Mechanistic studies combined pharmacological modulation and genetic targeting of NR3C1/STAT3 with assays of NR3C1 nuclear translocation, NR3C1–STAT3 interaction, and STAT3 binding to the SLC6A2 promoter.

resultsCyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G)–enriched anthocyanin preparation reduced IVDD-associated neuroinflammation and pain hypersensitivity, improved disc degeneration, and decreased NP apoptosis and inflammatory mediator release. Mechanistically, anthocyanins activated the NR3C1–STAT3–SLC6A2 axis, enhancing NR3C1 nuclear localization, promoting NR3C1–STAT3 coupling, and restoring SLC6A2 expression in sensory neurons. Disrupting NR3C1 or STAT3 weakened these protective and antinociceptive effects.

conclusionsC3G-enriched anthocyanins alleviate IVDD-related neuroinflammation and pain primarily via the NR3C1–STAT3–SLC6A2 signaling axis.

Indexed as

AnthocyaninsGlucosidesHyperalgesiaIntervertebral Disc DegenerationNeuroinflammatory DiseasesSignal TransductionSTAT3 Transcription FactorAnimalsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyAnthocyaninscyanidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranosideGlucosidesSTAT3 Transcription FactorAnthocyaninIntervertebral disc degenerationNeuroinflammationNorepinephrine transporter (SLC6A2)NR3C1–STAT3 signaling

Identifiers

PMID41943069
PMCPMC13214393

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