Sensory Neurons and Pain Signals
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2020) | Viewed by 2440
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to present the Special Issue entitled “Sensory Neurons and Pain Signals”, in which I am serving as Guest Editor.
Sensory neurons decode peripheral mechanical and chemical stimuli. They are characterised by unique physiological properties and firing patterns that transmit distinct sensory modalities to the central nervous system. Although three main subtypes of sensory neurons can be distinguished according to their different conduction velocities, genetic mapping has identified neurons with distinct gene expression profiles. While specific subsets of neurons are devoted to the transduction of acute painful stimuli, pain chronicization and allodynia cause the recruitment of a larger number of neurons, with rapid plasticity following injury or inflammation. In addition, the persistence of algogenic stimuli is transduced at molecular and genetic levels, resulting in lower threshold for firing and therefore generating the conditions for peripheral and central sensitisation. Due to the intrinsic complexity of chronic pain against individual genetic backgrounds, the pharmacological treatment of pain is very complex and still poorly effective for many patients.
In order to update knowledge on these processes and to highlight new possible drug targets, the Special Issue of Brain Sciences entitled “Sensory Neurons and Pain Signals” will take an in-depth look into many aspects of sensory neuron pathophysiology.
In particular, we will present review articles covering basic aspects of the anatomy and function of sensory neurons, the peculiar effects of neuropeptide signalling, miRNA-dependent plasticity processes, and epigenetic control of pain. In addition, we will focus on gender determinants of pain mechanisms and pharmacological approaches to treat and contain pain.
Dr. Elsa Fabbretti
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- sensitisation
- allodynia
- NGF
- BDNF
- CGRP
- TRP
- ASIC
- P2X
- piezo
- trigeminal ganglia
- dorsal root ganglia (DRG)
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