Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Tumor Transplantation for Assessing the Dynamics of Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2021
Exploring Chronic Pain, Immune Dysfunction and Lifestyle: A Focus on T Cell Exhaustion and Senescence
Yanthe Buntinx1, Jolien Hendrix1,2,3, Arne Wyns1,3
1Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
None:
Chronic pain conditions are debilitating and have an enormous impact on quality of life, yet underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood, hindering the development of diagnostic tools and effective treatments. Emerging evidence suggests a role for immune dysfunction in chronic pain. Among the various forms of immune dysfunction, T cell exhaustion and senescence, well-characterized in cancer and chronic infections, remain largely unexplored in chronic pain research. At the same time, lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, physical activity, and diet are increasingly recognized as modulators of both pain and immune function. This review explores the potential interplay between these behavioural factors, immune exhaustion/senescence, and chronic pain. Critical gaps in current knowledge are identified, and future directions are outlined to clarify immune dysfunction and the influence of lifestyle factors in chronic pain conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Nociception
Analgesia and Pain Management

