Is alpha-lipoic acid-induced heme oxygenase-1 expression mediated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in human monocytic cells?
These results demonstrate that ALA induces HO-1 expression in THP-1 monocytic cells via Nrf2 and p38. Further studies are required to investigate whether the protective effects of ALA in monocytes are mediated by HO-1.
In conclusion, this study shows that systemic inflammation elicited by the administration of endotoxin to humans, results in lowering of the pain threshold measured by 3 quantitative sensory testing techniques. The current work provides additional evidence that systemic inflammation is accompanied by changes in pain perception.