RNA-seq profiling in dorsal root ganglian (DRG) after fracture surgery and Protectin DX treatment

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms by which Protectin DX (PDX), a specialized pro-resolving mediator derived from docosahexaenoic acid, alleviates fracture-induced postoperative pain through GPR37 receptor signaling. The bulk RNA-sequencing experiment was conducted on L3-L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) tissues collected from CD1 mice three days after tibial fracture surgery, comparing gene expression profiles between PDX-treated and vehicle-treated groups. The primary goals are to identify differentially expressed genes regulated by PDX treatment, with particular focus on macrophage/neutrophil signaling, cytokine responses, and neuronal excitability pathways that contribute to pain resolution. This transcriptomic analysis aims to elucidate the molecular basis of PDX's superior analgesic efficacy compared to conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, and to understand how PDX promotes rather than delays the resolution of postoperative pain. The findings have significant clinical relevance for developing safer, non-opioid therapeutic strategies for postoperative pain management, particularly in orthopedic surgery patients, where current treatments often remain inadequate despite multimodal approaches.