Chemokines and cytokines in neuroinflammation leading to neuropathic pain.

There has been recent evidence showing the correlation between neuroinflammation owing to the chemokine-cytokine network and neuropathic pain. Chemokines and cytokines are derived from several types of cells in the peripheral and central nervous systems following nerve injury, and are largely involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. The roles of typical inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β have become the recent center of attention. There is growing evidence that inflammatory chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and fractalkine) play pivotal roles in neuropathic pain. Further investigations concerning the functions of the chemokine-cytokine network-mediated regulation of neuroinflammation may lead to novel therapeutic strategies against intractable neuropathic pain.