{"title":"Immune drivers of physiological and pathological pain.","authors":"Aakanksha Jain, Sara Hakim, Clifford J Woolf","doi":"10.1084/jem.20221687","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physiological pain serves as a warning of exposure to danger and prompts us to withdraw from noxious stimuli to prevent tissue damage. Pain can also alert us of an infection or organ dysfunction and aids in locating such malfunction. However, there are instances where pain is purely pathological, such as unresolved pain following an inflammation or injury to the nervous system, and this can be debilitating and persistent. We now appreciate that immune cells are integral to both physiological and pathological pain, and that pain, in consequence, is not strictly a neuronal phenomenon. Here, we discuss recent findings on how immune cells in the skin, nerve, dorsal root ganglia, and spinal cord interact with somatosensory neurons to mediate pain. We also discuss how both innate and adaptive immune cells, by releasing various ligands and mediators, contribute to the initiation, modulation, persistence, or resolution of various modalities of pain. Finally, we propose that the neuroimmune axis is an attractive target for pain treatment, but the challenges in objectively quantifying pain preclinically, variable sex differences in pain presentation, as well as adverse outcomes associated with immune system modulation, all need to be considered in the development of immunotherapies against pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":15760,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11010323/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Experimental Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20221687","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/4/12 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"IMMUNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Physiological pain serves as a warning of exposure to danger and prompts us to withdraw from noxious stimuli to prevent tissue damage. Pain can also alert us of an infection or organ dysfunction and aids in locating such malfunction. However, there are instances where pain is purely pathological, such as unresolved pain following an inflammation or injury to the nervous system, and this can be debilitating and persistent. We now appreciate that immune cells are integral to both physiological and pathological pain, and that pain, in consequence, is not strictly a neuronal phenomenon. Here, we discuss recent findings on how immune cells in the skin, nerve, dorsal root ganglia, and spinal cord interact with somatosensory neurons to mediate pain. We also discuss how both innate and adaptive immune cells, by releasing various ligands and mediators, contribute to the initiation, modulation, persistence, or resolution of various modalities of pain. Finally, we propose that the neuroimmune axis is an attractive target for pain treatment, but the challenges in objectively quantifying pain preclinically, variable sex differences in pain presentation, as well as adverse outcomes associated with immune system modulation, all need to be considered in the development of immunotherapies against pain.
期刊介绍:
Since its establishment in 1896, the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) has steadfastly pursued the publication of enduring and exceptional studies in medical biology. In an era where numerous publishing groups are introducing specialized journals, we recognize the importance of offering a distinguished platform for studies that seamlessly integrate various disciplines within the pathogenesis field.
Our unique editorial system, driven by a commitment to exceptional author service, involves two collaborative groups of editors: professional editors with robust scientific backgrounds and full-time practicing scientists. Each paper undergoes evaluation by at least one editor from both groups before external review. Weekly editorial meetings facilitate comprehensive discussions on papers, incorporating external referee comments, and ensure swift decisions without unnecessary demands for extensive revisions.
Encompassing human studies and diverse in vivo experimental models of human disease, our focus within medical biology spans genetics, inflammation, immunity, infectious disease, cancer, vascular biology, metabolic disorders, neuroscience, and stem cell biology. We eagerly welcome reports ranging from atomic-level analyses to clinical interventions that unveil new mechanistic insights.