Abstract:

Signals of touch, pressure, pain, temperature, position, and vibration are transmitted from the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the dorsal horn of the segmental spinal cord via pseudounipolar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Sensory information gathering relies on functional integrity of DRG neurons and can be interrupted by PNS injury due to trauma, disease or exposure to drugs, toxins or viral pathogens. Despite the high regenerative capacity of DRG neurons, sensory recovery after PNS injury is often incomplete and severe neuropathic pain may last for years. Although numerous mechanisms of PNS injury have been established, neuropathic pain is refractory to therapy, contributing to the physical and emotional suffering of patients and the enormous economic burden to society.