Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
07:09
The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
Published on: July 16, 2014
48.3K
Microglial Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors in Pain Modulation.
Kangtai Xu1,2, Yifei Wu1, Zhuangzhuang Tian1
1Department of Medical Neuroscience, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, SUSTech Center for Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Cannabinoid CB2 receptors in microglia show promise for treating chronic pain. Targeting these receptors may offer analgesia without the psychotropic effects associated with CB1 receptor activation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts patient quality of life.
- Cannabinoids, acting on CB1 and CB2 receptors, demonstrate analgesic effects.
- CB1 receptor activation causes psychotropic side effects, limiting therapeutic use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of microglial CB2 receptors in spinal nociceptive circuitry.
- To highlight mechanisms of CB2 receptor modulation of microglia function.
- To explore implications for CB2 receptor-selective agonist analgesia.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical pain models.
- Analysis of studies on CB2 receptor expression in microglia.
- Examination of the effects of CB2 receptor modulation on spinal cord activity.
Main Results:
- CB2 receptors are primarily expressed in immune cells, including microglia.
- Increased CB2 receptor expression in activated spinal microglia is linked to protective effects.
- Microglial CB2 receptors regulate spinal nociceptive circuitry.
Conclusions:
- CB2 receptors on microglia are a promising target for non-psychotropic pain relief.
- Modulating microglial CB2 receptors offers a potential strategy for chronic pain management.
- CB2 receptor-selective agonists may provide novel analgesic therapies.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
708
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...
708
01:44Nociception
28.2K
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.
28.2K
01:22Opioid Receptors: Overview
1.3K
Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
1.3K
01:20Pain
536
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...
536
01:28Inflammatory Response
3.7K
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,...
3.7K
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
7.8K
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
7.8K