Involvement of microglia in neuropathic pain signalling

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Brain Nerve. 2007 Jul;59(7):739-46.

Involvement of microglia in neuropathic pain signalling

Inoue K.

Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi

ku, Fukuoka 812 8582, Japan.

Neuropathic pain is often a consequence of nerve injury through

surgery, bone compression, diabetes or infection. This type of pain

can be so severe that even light touching can be intensely painful.

Unfortunately, this state is generally resistant to currently

available treatments. There is abundant evidence that activated

microglia are a key player for causing the pain and ATP receptors

expressed in microglia have an important role to activate microglia.

In this review, we summarize the role of microglia and ATP receptors

in neuropathic pain signalling. The activated microglia express P2X4

after nerve injury, which can be stimulated by endogenous ATP,

resulting in the release of BDNF which is one of key molecules

involving in neuropathic pain. The microglia also express many

molecules that were reported to be connected in the pain.

Understanding the key roles of these ATP receptors in microglia may

lead to new strategies for the management of intractable chronic

pain.