Mechanistic Insights into Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Pain Therapies: From Cellular Responses to Therapy Outcomes
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1734
Special Issue Editor
Interests: neuropathic pain; inflammatory pain; acupuncture analgesia
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Millions of people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, which significantly lowers their quality of life and interferes with their ability to function on a daily basis. Non-pharmacological interventions are becoming more well known due to their efficacy and fewer adverse effects, although pharmaceutical treatments have historically been the standard approach. However, our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of these interventions is still lacking, which hinders their best use and development.
In order to bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical practice, this Special Issue attempts to shed light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying non-pharmacological pain therapies. It aims to promote multidisciplinary cooperation and aid in the timely creation of evidence-based, non-pharmacological methods for managing chronic pain. This Special Issue will focus on the following topics, although we acknowledge that they are not the only important ones in this area of research:
- Molecular Mechanisms: Studying the signaling cascades and molecular pathways triggered by pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, such as modifications to neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and molecules linked to neuroplasticity.
- Cellular Mechanisms: Analyzing how neurons, glia, and immune cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems react to pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments, with a focus on adaptations brought about by therapy.
- The Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Integrative Approaches: Analyzing the synergistic outcomes and signaling pathways involved in integrated treatments that include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, and their joint role in modifying pain mechanisms.
Dr. Sungtae Koo
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- neuromodulation
- neural plasticity
- glial activation
- endogenous pain modulation
- neuroinflammation
- therapeutic mechanisms
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