In addition, we found the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway was activated in spinal cord after the injection of CFA, paralleling with pain hypersensitivity.However, Tα1 reversed this status.
These findings collectively suggest that HIV-1 gp120 induces synaptic degeneration in the spinal pain neural circuit by activating microglia via Wnt3a/β-catenin-regulated FKN expression in neurons.<b>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT</b> Synaptic degeneration develops in the spinal cord dorsal horn of HIV patients with chronic pain, but the patients without the pain disorder do not show this neuropathology, indicating a pathogenic contribution of the synaptic degeneration to the development of HIV-associated pain.