title: Nociceptor Sensory Neuron-Immune Interactions in Pain and Inflammation.
abstract: Nociceptor sensory neurons protect organisms from danger by eliciting pain and driving avoidance. Pain also accompanies many types of inflammation and injury. It is increasingly clear that active crosstalk occurs between nociceptor neurons and the immune system to regulate pain, host defense, and inflammatory diseases. Immune cells at peripheral nerve terminals and within the spinal cord release mediators that modulate mechanical and thermal sensitivity. In turn, nociceptor neurons release neuropeptides and neurotransmitters from nerve terminals that regulate vascular, innate, and adaptive immune cell responses. Therefore, the dialog between nociceptor neurons and the immune system is a fundamental aspect of inflammation, both acute and chronic. A better understanding of these interactions could produce approaches to treat chronic pain and inflammatory diseases.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Division of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR 10011, Brazil.
authors: Felipe A
authors: FA
authors: Pinho-Ribeiro
authors: Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR 10011, Brazil.
authors: Waldiceu A
authors: WA
authors: Verri
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Division of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: isaac_chiu@hms.harvard.edu.
authors: Isaac M
authors: IM
authors: Chiu
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000276:immunology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: inflammation; neuroimmunology; nociceptor; pain; sensory neuron