Uçeyler Nurcan, Sommer Claudia
Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Neurosci Lett. 2008 Jun 6;437(3):194-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.03.050. Epub 2008 Mar 22.
Cytokines are soluble proteins secreted mainly by immune cells and are key players in the induction and maintenance of pain. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are mostly algesic, while anti-inflammatory cytokines have analgesic properties. After the role of cytokines was shown in diverse animal models of pain, interest arose in the systemic and local regulation of cytokines in human pain states. Most clinical studies give evidence for an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in neuropathic and other pain states with pronounced pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles. Anti-cytokine treatment gives encouraging preliminary results and supports the notion of a crucial role of cytokines also in human pain states. Further research is needed for a better understanding of the mechanisms linking altered cytokine profiles to the sensation of pain.
细胞因子是主要由免疫细胞分泌的可溶性蛋白质，是疼痛诱导和维持的关键因素。促炎细胞因子大多具有致痛作用，而抗炎细胞因子具有镇痛特性。在多种疼痛动物模型中证实细胞因子的作用后，人们开始关注人类疼痛状态下细胞因子的全身和局部调节。大多数临床研究表明，在神经病理性疼痛和其他具有明显促炎细胞因子特征的疼痛状态中，促炎和抗炎细胞因子之间存在失衡。抗细胞因子治疗取得了令人鼓舞的初步结果，并支持细胞因子在人类疼痛状态中也起关键作用的观点。需要进一步研究以更好地理解细胞因子谱改变与疼痛感觉之间的联系机制。
