1. (A) Diagram to illustrate some of the processes leading to central sensitization.
(A) Diagram to illustrate some of the processes leading to central sensitization. Classic inflammatory mediators released at the site of injury alter the properties of primary afferent fibers such that they become hyperexcitable and/or spontaneously active. CSF-1 released from primary afferents changes the phenotype of microglia that they start to express new receptors, including purinergic ionotropic 2X4. ATP released from dorsal horn neurons interacts with P2X4Rs on microglia to promote release of BDNF, which interacts with neurons to increase dorsal horn excitability. (B and C) Diagrams to show how peripheral nerve injury increases ATP release from dorsal horn neurons by upregulating the vesicular nucleotide transporter VNUT.
Sascha R. A. Alles, and Peter A. Smith Pharmacol Rev 2018;70:
Copyright © 2018 by The Author(s)‏