research

Stunning Image of a Dorsal Root Ganglion Receives Honors From Nikon and Nature

The image, captured by Paula Diaz using fluorescence microscopy, was recognized as one of the best science images of 2021.

by PRF Team on 11 Jan 2022

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Each year since 1975, Nikon’s Small World has celebrated images captured by the light microscope. In their 2021 Photomicrography Competition, Nikon awarded fourth place to Paula Diaz, a PhD…

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How Does Pain Lead to a Decrease in Brain Dopamine Levels?

Incoming pain signals from the spinal cord reach the lateral parabrachial nucleus in the brainstem, and a subpopulation of its projection neurons acts to inhibit dopamine release from neurons in the midbrain.

by Charlie Kwok on 7 Jan 2022

Comment

In addition to reward and motivational processing, dopamine (DA) dysfunction is also associated with many chronic pain conditions.

Research

The Most Popular Content of PRF in 2021

A news story on the sex-specific differences in a pain mechanism, a paper exploring how spinal macrophages suppress pain hypersensitivity, and a seminar about a neurocultural model of pain led the pack.

by PRF Team on 23 Dec 2021

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The year 2021 required pain researchers to continue to adapt to the myriad of challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic. Through the increased utilization of hybrid approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration,…

Drug Development

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STING Immunotherapy: A Complementary Approach to Treating Bone Cancer Pain

Two studies indicate that activation of the pattern recognition receptor STING not only reduces bone tumor growth, but also reduces pain through complementary mechanisms

by Erika Harding on 17 Dec 2021

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Cancer is a leading cause of death in North America, and extracts a highly damaging personal and economic toll on those who suffer from it. Many common cancers, including…

Research

Nonpeptidergic Neurons Work to Suppress Mast Cells in the Skin

This study identified a communication network among Langerhans cells, MrgprD-expressing neurons, and mast cells, and how this communication works to maintain skin homeostasis.

by Courtney Bannerman on 3 Dec 2021

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Research published in Cell on April 15, 2021, found that a specific subset of neurons, MrgprD-expressing neurons, suppress mast cell hyperresponsiveness in the skin and work to maintain skin…

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Sex-Specific Differences in Pain Mechanism

Female-specific mechanical pain is driven through macrophage-neuron crosstalk and the IL-23/IL-17A/TRPV1 axis.

by Francie Moehring on 12 Nov 2021

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A plethora of epidemiological studies demonstrate that chronic pain conditions are more common in women than in men. Women are also at a greater risk for developing common chronic…

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What Do Patients Want to Know About Pain?

A novel mixed-methods study shows that patients value learning that pain does not equal damage, that there are multifactorial influences on pain, and that pain is a heightened protective response that can be changed.

by Kai Karos on 15 Oct 2021

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Pain education is an integral part of interventions to alleviate pain, with the goal of helping people with pain reconceptualize what pain actually is. Several campaigns such as Pain…

Research

Dose Tapering in Patients Prescribed Long-Term Opioids: More Harm Than Good?

A new retrospective cohort study reveals an increased risk of overdose and mental health crises among taperers.

by Lincoln Tracy on 8 Oct 2021

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Opioids are a complex and controversial topic in the pain field. Debate surrounding use of these drugs has intensified over the last decade because of increases in opioid-related morbidity…

Research

The Pain Research Forum Welcomes Gregory Carbonetti and Thanks Neil Andrews for His Outstanding Service

After leading PRF for nearly a decade, Neil Andrews pursues new projects while Gregory Carbonetti assumes the role of PRF senior manager.

by PRF Team on 7 Oct 2021

Since joining PRF in February 2012, Neil Andrews has devoted himself to the development and continued excellence of the Pain Research Forum. PRF, which began as a joint project…

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David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian Awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Both researchers were appointed as Nobel Prize laureates for their discoveries of key mechanisms responsible for sensing temperature and touch.

by Gregory Carbonetti on 5 Oct 2021

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On October 4, 2021, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet jointly awarded David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their independent discoveries of…

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Antibodies From Patients Cause Fibromyalgia Symptoms in Mice

IgG antibodies from fibromyalgia patients activate satellite glial cells to drive nociceptive hypersensitivity in mice.

by Francie Moehring on 1 Oct 2021

Comment

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is one of the most common chronic pain conditions, and yet the underlying mechanisms driving it have remained elusive. Previous work has started to build a…

Research

You Feel What You Eat: ω-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Drive Painful Neuropathy in Mice

A similar mechanism may be at play in people with diabetic neuropathy, suggesting the translational potential of the new findings.

by Fred Schwaller on 20 Sep 2021

Comment

In The Physiology of Taste, a classic first published in 1825, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote: “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”

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Nociceptors Regulate the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response to Viral Infection

Sensory neurons play a role in the immune response to HSV-1 infection through effects on T cells.

by Larissa de Clauser on 14 Sep 2021

Comment

Researchers know that infectious agents can lead to pain either through direct or indirect activation of nociceptors. Nociceptors then release neuropeptides from their peripheral terminals, which in turn can…

Research

The Vitamin D-Opioid Addiction Link

A new translational study reveals a correlation between opioid use and vitamin D deficiency in humans; mouse models suggest that restoring vitamin D signaling can normalize responses to opioids and improve opioid addiction.

by Charlie Kwok on 7 Sep 2021

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Millions of people continue to misuse opioids each year, pointing to the need for an improved understanding of the determinants of these painkillers' detrimental effects. A recent study now…

Research

Substituting Cannabidiol for Pain Medications: An Experiment Well Underway in Fibromyalgia Patients

A new survey study shows that people living with fibromyalgia are already substituting CBD for opioids and other pain drugs, despite what the clinical trial evidence says.

by Kayt Sukel on 30 Aug 2021

Comment

Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by widespread pain and accompanying symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive issues. The few medications available to treat fibromyalgia, including the antidepressants…

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The Naked Mole-Rat: A Curious Creature With Many Lessons for Pain Researchers

A recent IASP Pain Research Forum virtual seminar delved into capsaicin and acid insensitivity in these unusual animals.

by Francisco Isaac Fernandes Gomes on 11 Aug 2021

Of all the rodents used for pain research, the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) certainly stands out. This African animal, which can live for over 30 years and is resistant…

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Thinking Outside of the Box When Communicating About Pain

A session at the 2021 Australian Pain Society annual meeting highlighted the importance of effective science communication – and how to do it.

by Lincoln Tracy on 10 Aug 2021

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Editor’s note: The 2021 Australian Pain Society 41st Annual Scientific Meeting was held virtually April 19-20. This report summarizes a session at the meeting that argued for outside-of-the-box thinking…

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Sinking the Inflammarafts in Spinal Microglia Calms the Storm of Neuropathic Pain

Depletion of cholesterol from TLR4-containing lipid rafts in spinal microglia reverses chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.

by Fred Schwaller on 10 Aug 2021

Comment

Pain researchers are well aware that microglia play a critical role in pain sensitization after nerve injury. Known as the immune cells of the central nervous system, microglia drive…

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Responding Empathetically to Patient Distress

A recent IASP Pain Research Forum virtual seminar got to the heart of understanding and responding to patient distress during conversations about pain and pain management.

by Aidan Cashin on 3 Aug 2021

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People seeking treatment for pain are often emotionally distressed. It is important that clinicians recognize and respond appropriately to this distress that can shape patients’ experiences and expectations of…

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An Objective Measure of Itch

A new wireless sensor measures scratching while patients sleep.

by Kayt Sukel on 6 Jul 2021

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A wide variety of medical conditions can lead to itchy skin. One of those conditions, atopic dermatitis (eczema), affects 10 million children in the US alone. Yet itch is…

Research

Octopuses Have Affective Pain Experience

Behavioral and electrophysiological findings support a complex picture of pain in invertebrates.

by Sarah D'Angelo on 1 Jul 2021

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While it is generally recognized that invertebrates experience the nociceptive aspects of pain, in the form of reflexive responses to noxious stimuli, there has been much debate about whether…

Research

TRP Channels and Mechanical Pain: Starring TRPC5!

A new study uses a battery of pain models in mice to implicate TRPC5 in inflammatory mechanical and spontaneous pain; results from human tissue suggest translational potential.

by Neil Andrews on 22 Jun 2021

When pain researchers think about ion channels and mechanical pain, which specific channels first come to mind? PIEZO2 may sit near the top of the list for many investigators,…

Research

Painful Cold Sensing in Teeth: A New Role for a TRP Channel in a Well-Known Tooth Cell

New research proposes that the odontoblast, via TRPC5, serves as a primary sensory cell responsible for tooth cold pain.

by Neil Andrews on 22 Jun 2021

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Which cells are responsible for painful cold sensing in teeth – the sensation that can accompany eating ice cream, drinking iced tea, or having an infected tooth? And which…

Research

Pain Ligand-Receptor “Interactome” Revealed

Computational tool built from existing RNA sequencing dataset to advance translational pain studies.

by Stephani Sutherland on 24 May 2021

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Nociceptive sensory neurons innervate all the tissues of the body. Pain researchers have identified hundreds of receptors in such neurons over the past several decades, and these receptors are…

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Resolving Pain: Macrophages Are the New Boss in Town

A subpopulation of spinal macrophages expressing CD163 resolve nociceptive hypersensitivity by activating an anti-inflammatory pathway.

by Stephani Sutherland on 17 May 2021

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When it comes to chronic nerve injury pain, pro-inflammatory immune cells – microglia, in particular – receive the lion's share of attention. But new work shows that a specific…

Research

The Transition From Acute to Chronic Low Back Pain: How Common Is It? What Are the Risk Factors?

US study finds more than 30% of acute LBP patients go on to have chronic LBP; treatments not in agreement with guidelines, higher risk on SBT prognostic tool increase likelihood of transition.

by Lincoln Tracy on 11 May 2021

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How common is the transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP)? And what are the risk factors behind it? It's been difficult to answer these questions, in…

Research

Impaired Endogenous Opioid Signaling in Peripheral Nerves Contributes to Painful Diabetic Neuropathy in Mice

Evidence suggests a similar mechanism may be at play in people.

by Fred Schwaller on 10 May 2021

Comment

Painful diabetic neuropathy remains a stubborn problem in many patients. While alterations in endogenous opioid signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) have been associated with this condition, both…

Research

New Clinical Trial Shows No Benefit of High-Intensity Strength Training for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain – But Don't Give Up on Exercise!

Researchers try to make sense of a negative result.

by Kayt Sukel on 4 May 2021

Comment

About 14 million Americans live with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a disease of the joint in in which knee cartilage breaks down over time. This chronic condition is associated with…

Research

The Evolution of Spitting Cobra Venom to Ward Off Enemies

A new study reports the emergence, on three separate occasions, of venom spitting to inflict pain for defensive purposes.

by Francie Moehring on 26 Apr 2021

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When it comes to venomous snakes, usually we think of these creatures as using venom to kill and eat their prey. However, a new study suggests that in one…

Research

A Step Toward an Objective Biomarker of Chronic Pain: Can You ToP(S) This?

A new study puts forth a brain imaging biomarker that predicts experimental tonic pain and clinical back pain.

by Fred Schwaller on 19 Apr 2021

Comment

An objective biomarker of pain – it’s what many consider the Holy Grail of pain research. In recent years, brain activity signatures from neuroimaging studies have received a great…

Research

People Make Metacognitive Judgments About Pain

New research links pain rating reaction times to confidence in pain ratings, in a study of healthy volunteers subjected to experimental heat pain.

by Kayt Sukel on 6 Apr 2021

Comment

People who have pain are faced with the challenge of finding a way to express what is a subjective and multidimensional experience, usually by choosing a number on a…

Research

The Trajectories of Childhood Pain

At a recent virtual event, Laura Simons discussed research aiming to understand the trajectory of pain in kids.

by Mary Lynch on 24 Mar 2021

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How do we predict pediatric pain trajectories? Who recovers from pain and for whom does pain persist? These questions were the focus of Laura Simons’ closing keynote address, “Predicting…

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How Food Triggers the Pain of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A local immune reaction in the colon sensitizes sensory nerves.

by Stephani Sutherland on 17 Mar 2021

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a mysterious condition that affects an estimated 11% of the global population and causes chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. With IBS, the nerve…

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The Sensory Neuron-to-Lymph Node Connection: Understanding an Important Player in Peripheral Neuroimmune Communication

A unique population of peptidergic nociceptors regulates a variety of cell types in lymph nodes.

by Courtney Bannerman on 11 Mar 2021

Comment

Many studies have shown interactions between the peripheral nervous system and immune system. But a detailed understanding of interactions between neurons and lymph nodes, and why this communication may…

Research

I Feel Your Pain – and Analgesia

A new mouse study identifies an anterior cingulate cortex-to-nucleus accumbens brain circuit that regulates the social transfer of pain and pain relief.

by Kayt Sukel on 22 Feb 2021

Empathy – the adoption of the emotional and sensory state of others – is a fundamental social skill that helps people better perceive and respond to their external environment…

Research

Understanding Pediatric Pain in Cultural and Medical Context

A recent IASP Virtual Series on Pain & Expo workshop focused on sociocultural influences on children’s pain.

by Angela Pascale on 16 Feb 2021

Comment

Understanding pain experienced in childhood is crucially important, as pediatric pain sets the stage for both pain and healthcare experiences into adulthood. Of the many influences on childhood pain,…

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Therapeutic Suggestions During General Anesthesia Reduce Postoperative Pain and Opioid Use

A recent clinical trial shows the benefits of positive suggestions for surgical patients

by Lincoln Tracy on 8 Feb 2021

Comment

Surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia are usually thought to lack awareness of their environment and be unable to respond to external stimuli – how could it be otherwise when…

Research

Detecting Allergens and Triggering the Allergic Immune Response: A New Role for Sensory Neurons

TPRV1+ sensory neurons directly detect allergens in the skin and signal to dendritic cells via Substance P.

by Fred Schwaller on 26 Jan 2021

Comment

Add allergen detection and the allergic immune response to the growing list of biological functions made possible by interactions between the nervous system and the immune system, according to…

Research

Pain After Musculoskeletal Trauma: Who Is at Risk?

Presenters at a 2020 IASP Global Year webinar discussed factors that increase the risk for chronic pain after injury.

by Andrew Post on 11 Jan 2021

Comment

Editor’s note: The 2021 Global Year About Back Pain is underway, with many resources and activities planned throughout the year, including webinars. Here, we take a look back at…

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Spinal Astrocytes: New Players in Noradrenergic Descending Pain Modulation

Dorsal horn astrocytes activated by noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus drive mechanical hypersensitivity in mice, contrary to expectations.

by Fred Schwaller on 11 Jan 2021

Comment

Pain isn’t just under the dominion of neurons: Glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, have long been known to modulate pain sensitivity via interactions with neurons in both acute…

Research

High-Impact Chronic Pain: A Data Visualization

Fifty million of US adults have chronic pain, and 20 million of US adults have high-impact chronic pain (HICP). Age, sex, education level, employment status, and poverty status are major contributors to HICP.

by Laura Sirucek on 26 Nov 2020

Comment

This data visualization was originally published on RELIEF, PRF’s companion site for people with lived experience of pain and the wider public, and is being republished here for the…

Research

SARS-CoV-2 Interacts With Sensory Neurons

Clues are emerging to suggest where and how the virus attacks the peripheral nervous system.

by Stephani Sutherland on 23 Nov 2020

Comment

By now it’s clear: COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, includes symptoms that invoke the nervous system in myriad ways – from the acute symptoms of sore…

Research

Chronic Pain or Current Pain: What Do Changes in Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity Actually Reflect?

Commonly seen changes in brain connectivity among fibromyalgia patients may more closely reflect these individuals’ current clinical pain state rather than their pain condition

by Megan McPhee Christensen on 12 Nov 2020

Comment

The brains of patients with different chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, often show differences in resting-state functional connectivity, compared to pain-free controls. Researchers have often interpreted this to mean…

Research

A Potassium Channel Mutation Drives Resilience to Labor Pain

A genetic variant in Kv6.4 leads to reduced labor pain in a subset of childbearing women

by Fred Schwaller on 20 Oct 2020

Comment

The American actress Danica McKellar, best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the hit television series The Wonder Years, once said: “My hope is to go fully…

Research

A Rapidly Adapting Understanding of Touch

A recent study shows that Meissner corpuscles mediate gentle touch perception and are innervated by molecularly distinct Aβ neuron types

by Melanie Schaffler on 12 Oct 2020

Comment

Meissner corpuscles, receptors for vibration and pressure in the hairless skin of mammals, were first discovered over 165 years ago. However, the function of these structures in touch perception…

Research

Calls to Rename “Pain Catastrophizing” Backed by International Patient-Researcher Partnership

An ongoing initiative is investigating different perspectives on what has become a controversial term, aiming to identify the most suitable replacement

by Jayden O’Brien on 17 Sep 2020

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Editor’s note: Eight young pain researchers were recently selected to provide news articles and other content as part of PRF’s Correspondents program, which provides a science communications training experience.…

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A Persistence of Sex Bias in Preclinical Pain Research

A review of studies published since 2015 reveals a better balance between male and female animals in pain research, yet the existing literature shows a deep male bias in experimental effects

by Sarah Najjar on 18 Aug 2020

Comment

Even though chronic pain disproportionately affects women, preclinical pain research has relied heavily on data from male rodents. With increasing recognition that males and females process pain differently, some…

Research

The Parabrachial Nucleus Takes the Pain Limelight

Two recent studies build the case for a crucial role of this brainstem structure in pain

by Stephani Sutherland on 13 Aug 2020

Comment

Nociceptive signals entering the brain via the spinothalamic pathway allow us to detect the location and intensity of a painful sensation. But, at least as importantly, nociceptive inputs also…

Research

Analgesia From General Anesthetics: A “Pain-Off” Switch in the Central Amygdala

Isoflurane and ketamine engage a pain-suppression circuit controlled by GABAergic neurons in the CeA

by Fred Schwaller on 22 Jul 2020

Comment

General anesthetics used in surgeries are well known to cause loss of consciousness. This has often been assumed to account for the ability of these drugs to also produce…

Research

A Mislabeled Line? Well-Known Itch Afferents Can Code Pain, Too

Whether MrgprA3 neurons drive itch or pain depends on how the cells are activated; distinct spinal cord pathways underlie each sensation

by Tayler Sheahan on 16 Jul 2020

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How the nervous system encodes pain and itch – two distinct percepts – is hotly debated. A new study challenges the long-standing labeled line theory for itch, which argues…

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