Nociceptor Sensory Neuron-Immune Interactions in Pain and Inflammation.
Nociceptor sensory neurons protect organisms from danger by eliciting pain and driving avoidance. Pain also accompanies many types of inflammation and injury. It is increasingly clear that active crosstalk occurs between nociceptor neurons and the immune system to regulate pain, host defense, and inflammatory diseases. Immune cells at peripheral nerve terminals and within the spinal cord release mediators that modulate mechanical and thermal sensitivity. In turn, nociceptor neurons release neuropeptides and neurotransmitters from nerve terminals that regulate vascular, innate, and adaptive immune cell responses. Therefore, the dialog between nociceptor neurons and the immune system is a fundamental aspect of inflammation, both acute and chronic. A better understanding of these interactions could produce approaches to treat chronic pain and inflammatory diseases.
['Pinho-Ribeiro|Felipe A|FA|', 'Verri|Waldiceu A|WA|', 'Chiu|Isaac M|IM|']
D056704:Adaptive Immunity D000818:Animals D006801:Humans D007107:Immune System D007113:Immunity, Innate D007249:Inflammation D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation D009479:Neuropeptides D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents D009619:Nociceptors D010146:Pain D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells
nociceptor pain inflammation sensory neuron neuroimmunology