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Sensory Afferents Share Information With Diverse Array of Neurons

Study complicates picture of intraganglion, intraspinal, supraspinal communications

by Stephani Sutherland on 30 Sep 2015

Comment

Pain signals enter the spinal cord via primary sensory afferent neurons, which pass information along to ascending projection neurons that extend to the brain. But pain signals undergo processing…

Research

Extracellular Matrix Component of Joints Reduces Nociceptor Responses and Pain Sensitivity

Hyaluronan restrains opening of TRPV1 ion channel

by Matthew Soleiman on 23 Sep 2015

Comment

Joints contain extracellular fluid that buffers the mechanical force imparted to joint tissues by bodily movement. Degradation of the polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the joint synovial…

Research

Prelimbic Circuitry Links Chronic Pain and Anxiety

Deactivation of a specific prefrontal neuron population via kinase signaling underlies the connection

by Matthew Soleiman on 25 Aug 2015

Comment

Chronic pain and anxiety are closely interconnected, with each increasing the likelihood of the other. Research published earlier this year pointed to synaptic plasticity in the anterior cingulate cortex…

Research

University of Texas System Hosts Pain Conference, Announces Formation of Texas Pain Research Consortium

Meeting draws pain researchers from across the state

by Dayna Loyd Averitt on 17 Aug 2015

This report was co-authored by Shivani Ruparel, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.

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Stem Cells Quell Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Single intrathecal injection of bone marrow stromal cells provides rapid and long-lasting relief from mechanical and thermal pain

Allison Marin on 11 Aug 2015

Comment

Preclinical evidence that bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are a promising treatment for neuropathic and inflammatory pain continues to accumulate. A new study led by Ru-Rong Ji and Gang…

Research

Highlights From the 10th Annual NIH Pain Consortium Symposium

Mitchell Max Award finalists present findings on contributions of exercise and stress to pain, and social disparities in pain care

by Stephani Sutherland on 7 Aug 2015

Comment

No institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated exclusively to pain research, so the multi-institute Pain Consortium was created in 1996 to coordinate research across the…

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Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Emerges as Fundamental Pain Regulator

Anti-inflammatory lipid molecules link ER stress, neuropathic pain

by Stephani Sutherland on 24 Jul 2015

Most strategies to relieve neuropathic pain are aimed at the ion channels and neurotransmitters that govern overactive electrophysiological activity of neurons. But what if earlier stages of pain signaling…

Drug Development

Research

Sex Differences in Immune Cell Mediation of Pain

Microglia crucial for mechanical pain hypersensitivity in male mice, T lymphocytes vital in females

by Allison Marin on 21 Jul 2015

Comment

A substantial body of evidence points to microglia as critical contributors to pain signaling. However, new findings suggest that, unlike in male mice, microglia are not necessary for mechanical…

Research

Human “Pain-Protective Haplotype” Explained in Mouse Study

Novel inhibitor aimed at enzyme in tetrahydrobiopterin pathway reduces pain in neuropathic, inflammatory models without adverse effects

by Stephani Sutherland on 6 Jul 2015

Comment

Nearly a decade ago, researchers discovered a quirk of human genetics: people with a certain haplotype allele—found in about 15 percent of the population—of the gene for GTP cyclohydroxylase…

Drug Development

Research

Truncated Mu-Opioid Receptor Mediates Analgesia

Mouse study finds that a drug targeting MOR splice variant relieves pain without usual opioid side effects

by Allison Marin on 2 Jul 2015

Comment

Opioids are a mainstay in treating many kinds of pain but are accompanied by troubling side effects and abuse potential that limit their use. The search for opioids that…

Drug Development

Research

Highlights From the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society: Part 1

Mining the sleep-pain connection for new therapeutic strategies

by Stephani Sutherland on 26 Jun 2015

Comment

The following is Part 1 of a three-part series of selected talks from the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) held May 13-16, 2015, in…

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Highlights From the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society: Part 2

Keratinocytes emerge as active players in sensing pain

by Stephani Sutherland on 26 Jun 2015

The following is Part 2 of a three-part series of selected talks from the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) held May 13-16, 2015, in…

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Research

Highlights From the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society: Part 3

Sensory neuron, immune cell signaling turn acute pain chronic

by Stephani Sutherland on 26 Jun 2015

The following is Part 3 of a three-part series of selected talks from the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) held May 13-16, 2015, in…

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PRF Announces Partnership With the Rita Allen Foundation

Two-year grant will support development of lay materials to help raise public awareness of chronic pain and rally support for research

by PRF Team on 15 Jun 2015

Comment

PRF is pleased to announce that the Rita Allen Foundation will support “Coverage of Pain Research for Patients to Elevate Public Awareness and Understanding of Chronic Pain,” a new…

Research

Newly Identified Mutations Cause Pain Insensitivity

Gene with epigenetic control of sensory neuron development required for pain perception

by Stephani Sutherland on 11 Jun 2015

People with congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) cannot sense painful stimuli, and as a result continually suffer painless yet detrimental tissue damage, sometimes resulting in death. Mutations in a…

Research

A New Bioelectronic Device for Pain Treatment

Experimental implant delivers GABA to spinal cord, relieves pain in rats

by Carol Cruzan Morton on 8 Jun 2015

Comment

Delivering drugs to the spinal cord, where pain signals are relayed from the peripheral nervous system ultimately up to the brain, is a desirable approach to quelling pain, but…

Drug Development

Research

Move Over Alpha4: Nicotinic Receptor Alpha6 Subunit Identified as Potential Pain Target

Subunit’s analgesic effects observed in mice while human genetic study reveals clinical relevance

by Allison Marin on 4 Jun 2015

Comment

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) expression levels of Chrna6, the gene that encodes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α6 subunit, are highly correlated with mechanical allodynia in mice, and variability in…

Research

A New Optogenetics Approach: Creation of a Rhodopsin/Mu-Opioid Receptor Chimera

Novel tool allows more finely tuned modulation of opioid activity

by Allison Marin on 1 Jun 2015

Comment

Opioids are used clinically to treat many different pain conditions, but these drugs are problematic due to their abuse potential and side effects, including constipation, respiratory depression, and sedation.…

Research

Descending Dopaminergic Inputs to Spinal Cord Maintain Pain Plasticity

D1/D5 receptor signaling regulates maintenance of pain memory trace

by Stephani Sutherland on 18 May 2015

Chronic pain states are now recognized to evolve much like memories do, but the specific mechanisms that initiate and maintain pain hypersensitivity are still emerging. New research in mice…

Research

The Future of Epigenetics in Pain Research

A recent PRF webinar highlighted the relevance of epigenetics to understanding chronic pain mechanisms and vulnerability and developing new analgesics

by Cynthia McKelvey on 13 May 2015

Comment

Epigenetic mechanisms impact gene function without affecting the underlying DNA sequence, and are one way in which the environment can have long-lasting effects on the genome. Epigenetics has been…

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Chronic Low Back Pain: Hope or Hype?

First large, rigorous trial finds no effect on pain or disability measures

by Allison Marin on 7 May 2015

Comment

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) does not improve pain intensity or disability in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients, reports the first large trial in this population. tDCS was…

Research

Preoperative Efficiency of Conditioned Pain Modulation in Rats Predicts Recovery From Pain After Surgery

Findings from nerve injury model recapitulate clinical observations, implicate noradrenergic system

by Allison Marin on 21 Apr 2015

Comment

Rats with weak conditioned pain modulation (CPM), a measure of endogenous analgesia, experience longer recovery times from mechanical hypersensitivity following surgery compared to rats with stronger CPM, according to…

Research

Cortical Dendrites: A New Site for Chronic Pain Plasticity

Serotonin emerges as pain neuromodulator in anterior cingulate cortex

by Stephani Sutherland on 8 Apr 2015

Comment

Chronic pain leads to changes in how neurons in the pain pathway communicate with one another. So far, research on pain plasticity has focused mainly on synapses, the communication…

Research

Crosstalk Between Pain and Opioid Analgesia Signaling Pathways Identified

Pro-nociceptive neurokinin 1 receptor signaling enhances mu-opioid receptor recycling

by Allison Marin on 3 Apr 2015

Stimulation of the inflammatory pain-associated neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) pathway by substance P alters the phosphorylation state of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), reports a new study published March 24…

Research

Glycinergic Inhibitory Interneurons in the Spinal Cord “Gate” Pain

Mouse study reveals the cells have universal effect on nociception

by Stephani Sutherland on 30 Mar 2015

Glycine-releasing inhibitory interneurons found mainly in the deep dorsal horn of the spinal cord play a crucial role in pain processing, according to new research from Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer,…

Research

Brain Imaging-Based Drug Assessment Procedure Can Predict Clinical Efficacy of Pain Relievers

Multi-study proof-of-concept method could provide “Go/Stop” decisions to streamline drug discovery

by Abdul-Kareem Ahmed on 16 Mar 2015

Comment

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to predict efficacy of candidate analgesic drugs, reports a study published February 11 in Science Translational Medicine. In the new work,…

Research

Topical Workshops Galore at the 15th World Congress on Pain

Highlights included sessions on CIPN, analgesic effects of exercise, and nuclear signaling and pain

by Neil Andrews on 3 Mar 2015

Comment

The worldwide pain research community headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the International Association for the Study of Pain’s 15th World Congress on Pain, held October 6-11, 2014. This…

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Peripheral GABA Relieves TRPV1 Sensitization, Thermal Hypersensitivity

Autocrine release from sensory terminals activates GABAB1 receptor

by Stephani Sutherland on 26 Feb 2015

Comment

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, is well known for its presence in the central nervous system. But new research reveals that GABA released from peripheral terminals…

Research

Novel Regulator of TRPA1/TRPV1 Complex Modulates Inflammatory Pain

Interfering with association reduces TRPA1-mediated pain behaviors in mice

by Stephani Sutherland on 17 Feb 2015

Comment

Inflammatory pain springs from activity of the transient potential receptor ankyrin-repeat 1 (TRPA1). New research describes an endogenous protein that modulates TRPA1 function and TRPA1-associated pain behaviors in animals.…

Research

Biogen Idec Announces Plans to Buy Nav1.7 Program

Convergence Pharmaceuticals’ pain candidate gets vote of confidence

by Stephani Sutherland on 26 Jan 2015

Comment

On January 11, pharmaceutical giant Biogen Idec announced that it would acquire Convergence Pharmaceuticals, a small UK company that has developed a compound aimed at alleviating neuropathic pain by…

Drug Development

Research

Immune System Offers Protection From Pain Early in Life

Animal study suggests lack of neuropathic pain in children could stem from pain-suppressing cytokines

by Michele Solis on 23 Jan 2015

Comment

Early in life, anti-inflammatory molecules prevent the development of pain related to nerve injury in rodents, reports a study published January 14 in the Journal of Neuroscience. Led by…

Research

Synaptic Mechanism May Link Pain, Anxiety in Brain

Novel form of plasticity in the anterior cingulate cortex could provide target for treatment

by Stephani Sutherland on 21 Jan 2015

Like a thorny vine climbing along a wrought iron gate, pain and anxiety are inextricably intertwined. Anxiety disorders often develop in people with chronic pain, and being anxious worsens…

Research

PET Scans Provide First Evidence for Glial Activation in Brain in Chronic Pain Patients

Tracer lights up thalamus in people with lower back pain

by Stephani Sutherland on 20 Jan 2015

In recent years, glial cells have emerged as critical players in establishing and maintaining chronic pain states following nerve injury and other conditions—in rodents. An extensive body of work…

Research

Supporting Role: Oligodendrocyte Function in Pain Revealed

Ablation of specialized glia in mice causes a rapid onset of neuropathic pain without immune activation or demyelination

by Stephani Sutherland on 23 Dec 2014

Comment

Microglia, astrocytes, and even satellite glial cells have all been implicated in pain pathology. But the other major class of glia, oligodendrocytes, has not—until now. New research shows that,…

Research

Linking Early Life Stress, Pain, and Exercise

Rodent studies presented at Neuroscience 2014 find that early life stress contributes to future visceral nociception, and that exercise may improve some kinds of pain

by Allison Marin on 22 Dec 2014

Comment

Recent evidence suggests that early life adversity (ELA), such as childhood abuse or neglect, can lead to abnormal stress responses as well as abdominal and pelvic pain many years…

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Treating Neuropathic Pain With Cannabis: Pro and Con

Debate-style session at World Congress on Pain focuses on safety, efficacy of marijuana for neuropathic pain

by Pat McCaffrey on 22 Dec 2014

Comment

The spread of medical marijuana to treat chronic pain is welcome to some people, and alarming to others. On the plus side, marijuana, or cannabis, has a long history…

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Research

The Gold Standard: Studies of Human Nociceptors Taking Off

Thanks to organ donors, researchers are finding ways to access coveted cells

by Stephani Sutherland on 19 Dec 2014

Comment

In the wake of failed clinical trials based on animal models, the pain field is facing what seems to be an inescapable conclusion: the success of new pain drugs…

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What Did You Read This Year? PRF’s Top News Stories and Papers of the Week for 2014

News story on small-fiber neuropathy, paper on central TRPV1 grab the most views

by PRF Editors on 19 Dec 2014

Comment

The final days of 2014 are upon us, so it is a perfect time to reflect on the news stories and Papers of the Week that captured the interest of…

Blog

Research

A Basket Full of Nociceptors: Reprogramming Yields Pain Neurons From Mouse, Human Fibroblasts

Two groups use different strategies to create diverse populations of sensory neurons

by Stephani Sutherland on 12 Dec 2014

Comment

Much of what we know about pain physiology rests on studies of animal models or cells in a dish. While these approaches have produced a windfall of data, they…

Research

A Time for Change: Steps to Enhance Reproducibility of Neuroscience Studies

Story Landis, Francis Collins, and others discuss issues in special symposium at Neuroscience 2014

by Chelsea Nickerson on 11 Dec 2014

Comment

The art of designing sound, reproducible experiments is nearly impossible to perfect. As someone who has been involved in behavioral neuroscience research both in and out of the pain field…

Blog

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Research

Introducing the Inflammasome

Acute morphine treatment prolongs post-injury nerve pain via microglial signaling, according to a study presented at Neuroscience 2014

by Stephani Sutherland on 8 Dec 2014

Comment

Morphine and other opiate drugs are widely used to treat both acute and chronic pain, with mixed results. Because the drugs have limitations and a high risk of side…

Conferences

Research

The Nociceptive Nature of Histone Deacetylase

Studies presented at Neuroscience 2014 show how blocking the transcriptional repressor provides relief in rodent models of chronic pain

by Allison Marin on 7 Dec 2014

Comment

A trio of studies presented at the 44th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held November 15-19 in Washington, DC, US, adds to a growing body of literature…

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Research

Gate Keepers: Study Identifies Spinal Cord Circuit for Mechanical Pain

Somatostatin- and dynorphin-containing neurons process signals from incoming afferents

by Michele Solis on 3 Dec 2014

Comment

Somatostatin (SOM)-positive excitatory neurons in the spinal cord are key conduits for mechanical pain, according to a report published online November 20 in Cell. In the study, Qiufu Ma…

Research

Mind Over Mouse: Human Thoughts Control Gene Expression in Mice

Could using brainwaves to turn on protein production in an optogenetic implant someday treat pain?

by Allison Marin on 25 Nov 2014

Comment

What if there was a way to stop the agony of a migraine at the earliest stages, before you were even aware of the pain? Thanks to a pioneering…

Research

What Pain Tells Us About Cancer

Interactions of tumor cells and nerves are complex and reciprocal, according to Brian Schmidt at World Congress on Pain

by Pat McCaffrey on 12 Nov 2014

Comment

Pain is often the first sign of oral cancer, as it was for the young woman who came to see Brian Schmidt, a clinician and researcher specializing in head and…

Blog

Conferences

The Brain in Pain: A Tipping Point?

Part 3 of coverage of the Keystone Symposium on The Brain: Adaptation and Maladaptation in Chronic Pain

by Pat McCaffrey on 5 Nov 2014

Comment

Meeting co-organizer David Borsook, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, US, led off a session on the question of what happens to the brain in chronic pain. The…

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Research

Drivers: Brain Circuits and Networks That Control Pain Behavior

Part 2 of coverage of the Keystone Symposium on The Brain: Adaptation and Maladaptation in Chronic Pain

by Pat McCaffrey on 4 Nov 2014

Comment

In a keynote lecture, Howard Fields, University of California, San Francisco, US, took up the topic of what happens to the nociceptive signal once it reaches the brain. “Pain…

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Rocky Mountain Highlights: Pain and the Brain

Coverage of the Keystone Symposium on The Brain: Adaptation and Maladaptation in Chronic Pain

by Pat McCaffrey on 3 Nov 2014

Comment

The Keystone Lodge in scenic Colorado, US, was the setting for a wide-ranging pain meeting from June 15-20, 2014. In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, organizers David Borsook…

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Research

Insulin-Like Growth Factor Promotes Pain Through Calcium Channels

Pathway offers new possibilities for modulating calcium channel activity to quell pain

by Michele Solis on 3 Nov 2014

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) enhances pain signaling by way of voltage-gated calcium channels, reports a study published October 7 in Science Signaling. Led by Jin Tao of the…

Research

Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain: More Harm Than Good?

Appreciation of risks brings new guidelines and an initiative to research non-drug alternatives for pain

by Michele Solis on 9 Oct 2014

Comment

Over the past 15 years, powerful opioid painkillers have been on the front lines of treatment for backache, headaches, and other chronic pain conditions in the United States. But…

Research

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