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Papers of the Week


Papers: 26 Aug 2023 - 1 Sep 2023

RESEARCH TYPE:
Basic Science


Animal Studies, Molecular/Cellular, Neurobiology

PAIN TYPE:
Acute Pain, Inflammation/Inflammatory


2023 Aug


PNAS Nexus


37649580


2


8

Endogenous μ-opioid-Neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor synergy silences chronic postoperative pain in mice.

Authors

Nelson TS, Santos DFS, Prasoon P, Gralinski M, Allen HN, Taylor BK

Abstract

Tissue injury creates a delicate balance between latent pain sensitization (LS) and compensatory endogenous analgesia. Inhibitory G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) interactions that oppose LS, including μ-opioid receptor (MOR) or neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor (Y1R) activity, persist in the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) for months, even after the resolution of normal pain thresholds. Here, we demonstrate that following recovery from surgical incision, a potent endogenous analgesic synergy between MOR and Y1R activity persists within DH interneurons to reduce the intensity and duration of latent postoperative hypersensitivity and ongoing pain. Failure of such endogenous GPCR signaling to maintain LS in remission may underlie the transition from acute to chronic pain states.