title: Remote neuroimmune signaling: a long-range mechanism of nociceptive network plasticity.
abstract: Chronic pain secondary to neuronal injury is actively and continuously modulated at multiple locations along the sensory neuraxis. Here, we describe how nociceptive neurons of the spinal cord and thalamus process and communicate nociceptive information in terms of precisely calibrated firing patterns. We then discuss how several cell types with immunogenic properties (e.g. blood cells and glia) cause system-wide interference in nociceptive processing through novel signaling schema, thus contributing to nociceptive network plasticity and chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Alpert Medical School and Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA. carl_saab@brown.edu
authors.forename: Carl Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.forename: Bryan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hains
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005911:Gliosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology