Abstract
Pain is a complex phenomenon involving both a peripheral innate immune response and a CNS response as well as activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The peripheral innate immune response to injury involves the rapid production and local release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. Recent studies into the CNS response to peripheral chronic inflammatory pain strongly implicates a role for glia, and local synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A characteristic feature of CNS inflammation is gliosis, in which inflammatory mediators activate glial cells (e.g. astrocytes and microglia, macrophages and leukocytes) which have been shown to induce and maintain hyperalgesia. In addition, inflammatory pain induces changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and alters transport of clinically relevant drugs used to treat pain into the brain. Despite the increasing body of evidence for the involvement of glia in chronic pain and the role of glia in maintaining the BBB, few studies have addressed glial/endothelial interactions and the mechanisms by which glia may regulate the BBB during inflammatory pain. Further studies into the cellular mechanisms of glial/endothelial interactions may identify novel therapeutic targets for reversing chronic inflammatory induced BBB dysfunction and innovate therapies for modulating the severity of chronic inflammatory pain.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Chronic Inflammatory Pain and the Neurovascular Unit: A Central Role for Glia in Maintaining BBB Integrity?
Volume: 14 Issue: 16
Author(s): C. L. Willis and T. P. Davis
Affiliation:
Abstract: Pain is a complex phenomenon involving both a peripheral innate immune response and a CNS response as well as activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The peripheral innate immune response to injury involves the rapid production and local release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. Recent studies into the CNS response to peripheral chronic inflammatory pain strongly implicates a role for glia, and local synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A characteristic feature of CNS inflammation is gliosis, in which inflammatory mediators activate glial cells (e.g. astrocytes and microglia, macrophages and leukocytes) which have been shown to induce and maintain hyperalgesia. In addition, inflammatory pain induces changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and alters transport of clinically relevant drugs used to treat pain into the brain. Despite the increasing body of evidence for the involvement of glia in chronic pain and the role of glia in maintaining the BBB, few studies have addressed glial/endothelial interactions and the mechanisms by which glia may regulate the BBB during inflammatory pain. Further studies into the cellular mechanisms of glial/endothelial interactions may identify novel therapeutic targets for reversing chronic inflammatory induced BBB dysfunction and innovate therapies for modulating the severity of chronic inflammatory pain.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Willis L. C. and Davis P. T., Chronic Inflammatory Pain and the Neurovascular Unit: A Central Role for Glia in Maintaining BBB Integrity?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784705414
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208784705414 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Pain Management in Hematological Patients with Major Organ Dysfunctions and Comorbid Illnesses
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial - Coping with Neuropathic Pain: Do We Need More Selective Analgesic Drugs?
Current Pharmaceutical Design About the Guest Editors
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Recent Advances in the Design of Cathepsin S Inhibitors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Origin and Biological Significance of Shed-Membrane Microparticles
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets CD6 as a Cell Surface Receptor and As a Target for Regulating Immune Responses
Current Drug Targets Correlation Between Clinical Manifestation and Radiological Findings In Pulmonary Tuberculosis-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection Patients In Sanglah Hospital, Bali, Indonesia
Current HIV Research Comparison of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Different Intravenous Iron Sucrose Similar Preparations in a Rat Model
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Low Activity of Plasminogen Activator: A Common Feature of Non- Iatrogenic Comorbidities of Schizophrenia
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Possible Usefulness of Growth Hormone/Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Current Understanding of the Role of Dendritic Cells and Their Co-Stimulatory Molecules in Generating Efficient T Cell Responses in Lepromatous Leprosy
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Traumatic Stress Reactions in Parents in Pediatric Intensive Care: A Review
Current Psychiatry Reviews Pegylated Interferons for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Molecular Targets for Promoting Wound Healing in Diabetes
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Effects of CX3CR1 and Fractalkine Chemokines in Amyloid Beta Clearance and p-Tau Accumulation in Alzheimer,s Disease (AD) Rodent Models: Is Fractalkine a Systemic Biomarker for AD?
Current Alzheimer Research Inflammation: A Link Between Hypertension and Atherosclerosis
Current Hypertension Reviews Chronopharmacology and Antimicrobial Therapeutics
Current Clinical Pharmacology Editorial [Hot Topic: New Approaches to the Treatment of Viral Diseases (Guest Editor: Cristina Gardelli)]
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry How Should Serum Uric Acid Concentrations be Interpreted in Patients with Hypertension?
Current Hypertension Reviews Intracellular Delivery of Tumor Antigenic Peptides in Biodegradablepolymer Adjuvant for Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry