title: Plerixafor may treat intractable post-herpetic neuralgia.
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chicken pox) and establishes latency in ganglia. A reactivation of latent VZV leads to herpes zoster (shingles). Herpes zoster often causes herpetic pain that can last for months or years after the rash has healed. Prolonged herpetic pain is defined as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). There is an unmet need to explore novel therapeutic approaches for intractable PHN. Postmortem studies have shown that VZV induces neuro-inflammation and damage to the ganglia and spinal cord. These pathological changes may be critical factors resulting in PHN. Accumulated evidence suggests that stem cells may alleviate neuropathic pain in animal models through immunomodulatory actions and neuronal repair. Unfortunately, exogenous stem cell transplantation has limited clinical use due to safety concerns, immune rejection, and complications. Pharmacological mobilization of endogenous bone marrow stem cells may overcome these obstacles. Plerixafor is a SDF-1/CXCR4 axis blocker which can stimulate the release of stem cells from the bone marrow into blood circulation. We propose a hypothesis that endogenous stem cells mobilized by plerixafor may relieve the symptoms of PHN. If so, it may represent a novel approach for the treatment of intractable PHN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Xueyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Ruijuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Anshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China. Electronic address: wangyun129@ccmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001596:Benzylamines; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002465:Cell Movement; D000080027:Cyclams; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000503:physiopathology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D000080027:Cyclams; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; C088327:plerixafor