Topic: dorsal root ganglia

Neuropathic pain (NeuP) is a global health problem, with clinical manifestations including spontaneous (non-evoked) chronic pain (i.e. burning sensation) and altered somatosensory perception. To date, we still lack a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving NeuP. In preclinical mouse studies of NeuP, the main behaviour endpoints often fail to reflect typically observed patient symptoms, and the routine use of male subjects across diverse age ranges likely masks potential age- and sex-dependent variations. We aim to investigate the impact of age and sex on pain-related behavio

Peripheral nerves are highly susceptible to injuries. Severe nerve injuries with complete disruption in the nerve continuity need surgical intervention; injuries with nerve substance loss need a nerve substitute to fill the gap. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine techniques have developed several artificial nerve substitutes of natural or synthetic origins to face this issue.In the present study, electrospun nanofibrous membranes composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyaniline (PANI) blend, further doped with camphor-10-sulfonic acid (CSA), were prepared in random and aligned orie

Autoantibodies (aAb) targeting Contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2) have been implicated in neuropathic pain, yet the precise underlying pathomechanism is not completely understood. Caspr2 is part of a protein complex named the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex located at the juxtaparanodal region of the nodes of Ranvier in the peripheral nervous system. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) may serve as mediating neurons transmitting nociceptive signals from the periphery to the central nervous system. Therefore, changes in the excitability of DRG neurons might contribute to the pathology

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs involved in all processes in health and disease, including neuropathic pain and neuroregeneration. Upon peripheral nerve injury (PNI), dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons exhibit increased excitability and altered signaling, leading to dysregulation of their transcriptomic profiles indicative of neuropathic pain and axono-regenerative processes. The complexity of these neuronal responses makes distinguishing between the mechanisms involved in neuroregeneration and neuropathy highly challenging. To elucidate the role of miRNAs in these processes, we u

Aim: Methylcobalamin (MeCbl) is known to promote peripheral nerve regeneration and polarize macrophage to M2. In recent years, it has been reported that the regeneration of peripheral nerves and the polarization of macrophages to M2 are important for bone formation. The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of MeCbl on bone formation via peripheral nerves and macrophages. Methods: Effects of MeCbl were evaluated using rat skull defect models. Briefly, we created a bone hole in the rat skull, and evaluated the bone formation rate in the defect area in a group that received continuo

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) represents a complex and challenging condition characterized by widespread pain and an intricate interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers the possibility of using previous knowledge to understand the molecular underpinnings of pain in FMS. The goal of this study was to leverage this information for drug repurposing prediction, setting the basis for new Clinical Trials. Methods: This study employed an innovative comprehensive approach utilizing AI for a systematic screening of genetic, clinical, and drug-relate

Friedreich ataxia (FA), the most common recessive hereditary ataxia, is an early-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by pathological changes occurring first in the peripheral dorsal root ganglia (DRG), with loss of the large sensory proprioceptive neurons, leading to ganglionopathy and proprioceptive deficits. FA is caused by a mutation in frataxin gene (Fxn), leading to reduced expression of frataxin protein (FXN), an essential ubiquitous mitochondrial protein. Most research has focused on the pathophysiological involvement of proprioceptors. However, in recent years, neuroinflammat

Scientifica PatchScope Pro system is an integrated electrophysiology rig incorporating an inverted phase-contrast fluorescence microscope, motorised XY stage and PatchStar micromanipulators, suitable for patch-clamp recording. In contrast to other patch-clamp systems, this microscope has a small footprint to maximise use of lab space. The low-noise electrical components are designed specifically for patch-clamp recordings. Fluorescence capability allows identification of cells of interest (e.g. using fluorescent markers or calcium-imaging) and motorisation of the stage means that XY co-ordinat

Neuromodulation techniques offer drug-free management of chronic pain. However, electrical stimulation does not discriminate between sensory and motor fibres, nor between their functional subtypes, and can therefore result in off-target effects (e.g., motor activation). One way to alter nociceptive fibre activity alone is through the selective expression of light sensitive opsins within nociceptive fibres. Thus, light may be used to alter nociceptive activity whilst leaving neighbouring fibres unaffected. We selectively expressed either excitatory (channelrhodopsin; ChR2) or inhibitory (halorh

The Transient receptor Receptor potential Potential melastatin Melastatin family member subtype 8 (TRPM8) receptor-channel is involved in mammalian innocuous cold perception and is also known to mediate anti-inflammatory effects, reversing nociceptive hypersensitivity and reducing chronic pain. Besides the well-characterized effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the vasculature, there is a general recognition that PGI2 is also involved in nociception, as it induces pain sensitivity and increase inflammatory responses. These biological effects are mediated by the prostacyclin receptor (IP-R) expres

We successfully generated in vitro human regenerative macrophage self-trasplantation (REMaST®) derived from blood monocytes. Transcriptomic analysis of REMaST® confirm the upregulation, compared to M2 macrophages of neurogenic genes, and related to functions required to wound healing including, ECM-remodelling, angiogenesis, response to hypoxia, immune modulation, detoxification and defence, response to stress, and glucose metabolism. Therefore, we decided to exploit REMaST® neuro-regenerative potential and validate these properties. To evaluate REMaST® neurotrophic and neuroprotective activit

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) of ~22 nucleotides that regulate gene expression in all biological processes in health and disease, including nerve injury-induced neuronal regeneration and neuropathic pain. Although miRNAs have been under investigation for their potential application as biomarkers or even in novel therapeutic approaches, the signaling pathways involved in their regulation as well as their biological role remains elusive. Mice were subjected to the spared nerve injury model for neuropathic pain and paired-miRNA::mRNA sequencing was performed on dorsal root