%0 Journal Article
%T Increased capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in skin nerve fibres and related vanilloid receptors TRPV3 and TRPV4 in keratinocytes in human breast pain
%A Preethi Gopinath
%A Elaine Wan
%A Anita Holdcroft
%A Paul Facer
%A John B Davis
%A Graham D Smith
%A Chas Bountra
%A Praveen Anand
%J BMC Women's Health
%D 2005
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1472-6874-5-2
%X Eighteen patients (n = 12 breast reduction and n = 6 breast reconstruction) were recruited and assessed for breast pain by clinical questionnaire. Breast skin biopsies from each patient were examined using immunohistological methods with specific antibodies to the capsaicin receptor TRPV1, related vanilloid thermoreceptors TRPV3 and TRPV4, and nerve growth factor (NGF).TRPV1-positive intra-epidermal nerve fibres were significantly increased in patients with breast pain and tenderness (TRPV1 fibres / mm epidermis, median [range] 每 no pain group, n = 8, 0.69 [0每1.27]; pain group, n = 10, 2.15 [0.77每4.38]; p = 0.0009). Nerve Growth Factor, which up-regulates TRPV1 and induces nerve sprouting, was present basal keratinocytes: some breast pain specimens also showed NGF staining in supra-basal keratinocytes. TRPV4-immunoreactive fibres were present in sub-epidermis but not significantly changed in painful breast tissue. Both TRPV3 and TRPV4 were significantly increased in keratinocytes in breast pain tissues; TRPV3, median [range] 每 no pain group, n = 6, 0.75 [0每2]; pain group, n = 11, 2 [1-3], p = 0.008; TRPV4, median [range] 每 no pain group, n = 6, [0每1]; pain group, n = 11, 1 [0.5每2], p = 0.014).Increased TRPV1 intra-epidermal nerve fibres could represent collateral sprouts, or re-innervation following nerve stretch and damage by polymodal nociceptors. Selective TRPV1-blockers may provide new therapy in breast pain. The role of TRPV3 and TRPV4 changes in keratinocytes deserve further study.Breast pain is a common problem, which can affect up to 70% of women [1]. Breast pain or mastalgia can be cyclical or non-cyclical. The cyclical type of breast pain has been attributed to sex hormonal changes through the menstrual cycle that may increase the size of the breast tissue, which stretches the internal structures and causes pain or soreness. Numerous studies have demonstrated variation in pain perception during the menstrual cycle [2-5]. Heat sensitivity is increased in th
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