Milligan Erin D, Watkins Linda R
Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA.
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009 Jan;10(1):23-36. doi: 10.1038/nrn2533.
Glia have emerged as key contributors to pathological and chronic pain mechanisms. On activation, both astrocytes and microglia respond to and release a number of signalling molecules, which have protective and/or pathological functions. Here we review the current understanding of the contribution of glia to pathological pain and neuroprotection, and how the protective, anti-inflammatory actions of glia are being harnessed to develop new drug targets for neuropathic pain control. Given the prevalence of chronic pain and the partial efficacy of current drugs, which exclusively target neuronal mechanisms, new strategies to manipulate neuron-glia interactions in pain processing hold considerable promise.
神经胶质细胞已成为病理性和慢性疼痛机制的关键促成因素。激活后,星形胶质细胞和小胶质细胞都会对多种信号分子做出反应并释放这些分子,这些信号分子具有保护和/或病理功能。在此,我们综述了目前对神经胶质细胞在病理性疼痛和神经保护作用方面的理解,以及如何利用神经胶质细胞的保护、抗炎作用来开发控制神经性疼痛的新药物靶点。鉴于慢性疼痛的普遍性以及当前仅针对神经元机制的药物的部分疗效,在疼痛处理过程中操纵神经元与神经胶质细胞相互作用的新策略具有相当大的前景。