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Molecular Brain
Published in: Molecular Brain 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Review

Molecules in pain and sex: a developing story

Authors: Josiane C. S. Mapplebeck, Simon Beggs, Michael W. Salter

Published in: Molecular Brain | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Microglia are dynamic immune cells with diverse roles in maintaining homeostasis of the central nervous system. Dysregulation of microglia has been critically implicated in the genesis of neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve injury, a common cause of neuropathic pain, engages microglia-neuronal signalling which causes disinhibition and facilitated excitation of spinal nociceptive pathways. However, recent literature indicates that the role of microglia in neuropathic pain is sexually dimorphic, and that female pain processing appears to be independent of microglia, depending rather on T cells. Despite this sex difference, pain signalling in the spinal cord converges downstream of microglia, as NMDAR-mediated facilitated excitation in pain transmitting neurons is consistent between males and females. Determining whether pain signalling is sexually dimorphic in humans and, further, addressing the sex bias in pain research will increase the translational relevance of preclinical findings and advance our understanding of chronic pain in women.
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Metadata
Title
Molecules in pain and sex: a developing story
Authors
Josiane C. S. Mapplebeck
Simon Beggs
Michael W. Salter
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Brain / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1756-6606
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-017-0289-8

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