The study, led by Yong-Jing Gao at Nantong University in China, identifies a protein that neurons use to interact with astrocytes, a star-shaped kind of glial cell, in mice.

In chronic pain conditions, different kinds of cells in the spinal cord communicate with each other in complicated ways. In particular, nerve cells (neurons) that transmit pain signals communicate with glial cells, a type of cell that supports the functioning of neurons.

By following changes in the activity of genes in the spinal cord after experimental nerve damage (which is used to study pain in animals), researchers discovered increased amounts of CXCL13 (a cytokine that sends signals to other cells) in neurons. The investigators found that when the neurons released CXCL13, the protein made its way to astrocytes, where it bound to and activated another protein, called CXCR5. The novelty for people suffering from chronic pain stands in the discovery that nerve-injured animals showed less pain sensitivity in response to touch or heat when communication between CXCL13 and CXCR5 was blocked. Even though these findings come from an animal study, the researchers are quite excited because if it is proven that levels of CXCL13 and CXCR5 are altered in individuals with chronic pain, then perhaps disrupting the signaling between the two proteins could also alleviate pain in people.

But, much work remains to be done to prove a possible role for CXCL13-CXCR5 communication in chronic pain in people, and whether disrupting that communication will be of benefit.

To read more about the research, see this link.

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The questionnaire has been shared with all GAPP partners and distributed to the European Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology (ESPA) and to the Special Interest Group (SIG) on Pain in Children from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

Till now 155 responses have been received, of which 41 persons completed the questionnaire, while 114 persons partially filled in it: from Europe 54, USA 42, Canada 19, Australia/NZ 5, Asia 8 and from Africa 3 responders. In particular, members of the Pediatric Pain List commented about the choice of medication, which might be explained by differences in medication available and used between the USA/Canada and Europe.

Please find below the schedule responders which were from different specialties.

Further analysis will take place and the EMC will keep the GAPP-colleagues informed with the results.

The post The treatment of neuropathic (or mixed) pain: the results of the survey appeared first on GAPP.