a Department of Anesthesiology , New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , Newark , NJ , USA.
Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2019 Jan;23(1):15-20. doi: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1550075. Epub 2018 Dec 2.
Current treatments for neuropathic pain are limited in part due to the incomplete understanding of its underlying mechanisms. Recent evidence reveals the dysregulated expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the damaged nerve, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and spinal cord dorsal horn following peripheral nerve injury. However, the role of the majority of lncRNAs in neuropathic pain genesis is still elusive. Unveiling the mechanisms of how lncRNAs participate in neuropathic pain may develop new strategies to prevent and/or treat this disorder. Areas covered: This review focuses on the dysregulation of lncRNAs in the DRG, dorsal horn, and the injured nerves from preclinical models of neuropathic pain. We provide evidence of how peripheral nerve injury causes the dysregulation of lncRNAs in these pain-related regions. The potential mechanisms of how dysregulated lncRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain are discussed. Expert opinion: The investigation on the role of the dysregulated lncRNAs in neuropathic pain might open up a novel avenue for therapeutic treatment of this disorder. However, current investigation is at the infancy stage, which challenges the translation of preclinical findings. More intensive studies on lncRNAs are required before the preclinical findings are translated into therapeutic management for neuropathic pain.
目前针对神经病理性疼痛的治疗方法有限，部分原因是对其潜在机制的不完全了解。最近的证据表明，在周围神经损伤后，受损神经、背根神经节 (DRG) 和脊髓背角中长链非编码 RNA (lncRNA) 的表达失调。然而，大多数 lncRNA 在神经病理性疼痛发生中的作用仍然难以捉摸。揭示 lncRNA 参与神经病理性疼痛的机制可能为预防和/或治疗这种疾病开发新策略。涵盖领域：本综述重点关注神经病理性疼痛的临床前模型中 DRG、背角和损伤神经中 lncRNA 的失调。我们提供了证据表明外周神经损伤如何导致这些与疼痛相关区域中 lncRNA 的失调。讨论了失调 lncRNA 如何有助于神经病理性疼痛发病机制的潜在机制。专家意见：对失调 lncRNA 在神经病理性疼痛中的作用的研究可能为这种疾病的治疗开辟新途径。然而，目前的研究处于起步阶段，这对临床前发现的转化提出了挑战。在将临床前发现转化为神经病理性疼痛的治疗管理之前，需要对 lncRNA 进行更多的研究。
