title: Emerging targets in neuroinflammation-driven chronic pain.
abstract: Current analgesics predominately modulate pain transduction and transmission in neurons and have limited success in controlling disease progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that neuroinflammation, which is characterized by infiltration of immune cells, activation of glial cells and production of inflammatory mediators in the peripheral and central nervous system, has an important role in the induction and maintenance of chronic pain. This Review focuses on emerging targets - such as chemokines, proteases and the WNT pathway - that promote spinal cord neuroinflammation and chronic pain. It also highlights the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution lipid mediators that act on immune cells, glial cells and neurons to resolve neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and pain. Targeting excessive neuroinflammation could offer new therapeutic opportunities for chronic pain and related neurological and psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, 595 LaSalle Street, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Ru-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, 595 LaSalle Street, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Pain Research Laboratory, Institute of Nautical Medicine, Jiangsu Key laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases