中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2025, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (10): 2898-2900.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00673

• 观点:脊髓损伤修复保护与再生 • 上一篇    下一篇

揭示隐藏疼痛的阴影:脊髓神经元和小胶质细胞在前庭痛中的作用

  

  • 出版日期:2025-10-15 发布日期:2025-02-08

Lighting the shades of hidden pain: a role for spinal cord neurons and microglia in vestibulodynia

Rosmara Infantino# , Francesca Gargano# , Serena Boccella, Carmela Belardo, Andrea Maria Morace, Francesca Guida, Sabatino Maione, Livio Luongo*   

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Italy (Infantino R, Boccella S, Belardo C, Morace AM, Guida F, Maione S, Luongo L) Università Campus Bio-medico di Roma, Rome, Italy (Gargano F)
  • Online:2025-10-15 Published:2025-02-08
  • Contact: Livio Luongo, PhD,livio.luongo@gmail.com.

摘要: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1949-2039 (Livio Luongo)

Abstract: Vulvodynia, a chronic pain disorder affecting the vulvar region, represents a significant challenge in both diagnosis and treatment within the field of women’s health. This condition is characterized by chronic pain that significantly affects the quality of life of afflicted women. The present perspective paper examines the role of spinal sensitization and microglial activation in vulvodynia. Traditionally, treatment approaches have focused on symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying biological mechanisms, largely due to the condition’s complex and poorly understood etiology. Recent scientific advancements underscore the crucial roles of spinal sensitization and microglial activation in vulvodynia’s pathophysiology. These findings suggest that microglia, which play a significant role in immune surveillance within the central nervous system, modulate pain pathways through their interactions with neurons, influencing cytokine release and neuronal excitability. This article explores how advancements in understanding these mechanisms could improve clinical practices, offering new, targeted treatments that address the root causes of pain. Thus, it discusses the potential of microglial activation as a therapeutic target, highlighted by successful interventions in various pain models, and considers the implications of these insights for future research and clinical applications. The challenges of translating these findings from animal models to human conditions are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for sophisticated imaging techniques and molecular biology to bridge this gap. Ultimately, the paper highlights a promising direction for improving the management and treatment of vulvodynia through focused research on spinal sensitization and microglial dynamics.