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The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
Published on: July 16, 2014
Sensory neuron heterogeneity in neuropathic pain: implications for precision analgesia
Natja Haag1,2, Jannis Körner2,3,4,5
1Center for Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Purpose Of Review:
Neuropathic pain remains a major clinical challenge, with limited mechanism-based treatment options. This review summarizes recent advances in sensory neuron biology, with a particular focus on the transcriptomic and functional heterogeneity of nociceptive neurons and their implications for precision analgesic development.
Recent Findings:
Single-cell transcriptomics and multimodal approaches have revealed previously unrecognized sensory neuron diversity and dynamic state-dependent plasticity. Recent human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) atlases and Patch-seq studies have further demonstrated that neuronal identity arises from the interaction between transcriptional state and functional phenotype, thereby uncovering pain-relevant neuronal subtypes and novel therapeutic targets.
Summary:
Sensory neurons emerge as transcriptionally diverse and dynamically regulated cellular states, rather than fixed neuronal classes. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics and multimodal profiling are refining our understanding of sensory neuron heterogeneity and providing new opportunities for mechanism-based therapeutic development in neuropathic pain.
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Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
Somatosensation

