Abstract
Pain is a complex phenomenon involving both a peripheral innate immune response and a CNS response as well as activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The peripheral innate immune response to injury involves the rapid production and local release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. Recent studies into the CNS response to peripheral chronic inflammatory pain strongly implicates a role for glia, and local synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A characteristic feature of CNS inflammation is gliosis, in which inflammatory mediators activate glial cells (e.g. astrocytes and microglia, macrophages and leukocytes) which have been shown to induce and maintain hyperalgesia. In addition, inflammatory pain induces changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and alters transport of clinically relevant drugs used to treat pain into the brain. Despite the increasing body of evidence for the involvement of glia in chronic pain and the role of glia in maintaining the BBB, few studies have addressed glial/endothelial interactions and the mechanisms by which glia may regulate the BBB during inflammatory pain. Further studies into the cellular mechanisms of glial/endothelial interactions may identify novel therapeutic targets for reversing chronic inflammatory induced BBB dysfunction and innovate therapies for modulating the severity of chronic inflammatory pain.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Chronic Inflammatory Pain and the Neurovascular Unit: A Central Role for Glia in Maintaining BBB Integrity?
Volume: 14 Issue: 16
Author(s): C. L. Willis and T. P. Davis
Affiliation:
Abstract: Pain is a complex phenomenon involving both a peripheral innate immune response and a CNS response as well as activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The peripheral innate immune response to injury involves the rapid production and local release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. Recent studies into the CNS response to peripheral chronic inflammatory pain strongly implicates a role for glia, and local synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A characteristic feature of CNS inflammation is gliosis, in which inflammatory mediators activate glial cells (e.g. astrocytes and microglia, macrophages and leukocytes) which have been shown to induce and maintain hyperalgesia. In addition, inflammatory pain induces changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and alters transport of clinically relevant drugs used to treat pain into the brain. Despite the increasing body of evidence for the involvement of glia in chronic pain and the role of glia in maintaining the BBB, few studies have addressed glial/endothelial interactions and the mechanisms by which glia may regulate the BBB during inflammatory pain. Further studies into the cellular mechanisms of glial/endothelial interactions may identify novel therapeutic targets for reversing chronic inflammatory induced BBB dysfunction and innovate therapies for modulating the severity of chronic inflammatory pain.
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Cite this article as:
Willis L. C. and Davis P. T., Chronic Inflammatory Pain and the Neurovascular Unit: A Central Role for Glia in Maintaining BBB Integrity?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784705414
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784705414 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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