Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
10:37
Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
Published on: April 11, 2018
Cytokines and pain.
Caio Marcio Barros de Oliveira1, Rioko Kimiko Sakata, Adriana Machado Issy
1Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dor e Terapia Intensiva of Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), SP, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira De Anestesiologia
|April 9, 2011
Summary
Cytokines, crucial for inflammation and healing, can also drive pain when overproduced. This review details how various cytokines influence pain pathways.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
Background:
- Cytokines are key mediators of inflammatory responses, essential for wound healing.
- Dysregulated production of proinflammatory cytokines can lead to systemic issues like hemodynamic instability.
- This review focuses on the multifaceted role of cytokines in the perception and processing of pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the specific effects of cytokines on pain signaling pathways.
- To differentiate the roles of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in pain pathophysiology.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of cytokine involvement in pain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles on cytokines and pain.
- Analysis of cytokine-neuron interactions in pain transmission.
- Examination of the impact of specific cytokines (e.g., IL-1, TNF, IL-10) on pain.
Main Results:
- Cytokines are recognized by neurons, influencing cell activity and immune responses.
- Proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) are implicated in the pathophysiology of pain syndromes.
- Anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGFβ) modulate pain signaling.
Conclusions:
- Cytokines play a significant role in pain mechanisms.
- Multiple sites within pain transmission pathways are affected by cytokine activity.
- Understanding cytokine roles is vital for developing novel pain management strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
01:28Inflammatory Response
An inflammatory response is a localized, nonspecific immune reaction that occurs when a tissue is injured. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are commonly called the cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation. Inflammation can sometimes result in a loss of function.
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
01:25Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...