New Clinical Data Show More Upside for NaV1.8 Analgesia Click Here to Read Suzetrigine’s 2025 approval validated NaV1.8 as a pain target, but the drug missed its endpoint against hydrocodone/acetaminophen, and human neuron studies showed it dampens nociceptor firing without eliminating it—raising doubts about how effective NaV1.8 inhibitors can be. New Phase 2b data on […]
A prolactin-targeting antibody to prevent stress-induced peripheral nociceptor sensitization and female postoperative pain Click Here to Read Psychological stress before surgery is a known risk factor for increased and prolonged postoperative pain, particularly in women — yet the underlying mechanisms have remained poorly understood. This study identifies prolactin (PRL), a stress- and estrogen-regulated neurohormone, as […]
Nociceptors are functionally male or female: from mouse to monkey to man Click Here to Read Pain conditions frequently differ between men and women not just in prevalence, but in the underlying biological mechanisms — yet sex as a variable remains largely overlooked in pain therapy and clinical trial design. This study reveals a striking […]
The opioid receptor differentiates two distinct human nociceptive populations relevant to clinical pain Click Here to Read Reducing reliance on opioids for severe pain requires knowing exactly which human sensory neurons respond to μ-opioid signaling. Using multiplex in situ hybridization, we mapped OPRM1 co-expression with nociceptive channels and the δ- and κ-opioid receptors in human […]
Cross-species transcriptomic atlas of dorsal root ganglia reveals species-specific programs for sensory function Click Here to Read This paper (1) describes a protocol for efficient isolation of DRG nuclei from multiple species, (2) provides the high-resolution, comprehensive, detailed single-nucleus transcriptome atlas of DRG from pre-clinical to human samples, and (3) characterize the transcriptional convergence and […]
Human Sensory Neurons: Membrane Properties & Sensitization by Inflammatory Mediators Click Here to Read Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from 141 human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) neurons from five young adult donors without chronic pain were performed. The data collected indicates that most small/medium hDRG neurons can be classified as nociceptors, respond directly to compounds that produce […]
Chronic linaclotide treatment reduces colitis-induced neuroplasticity & reverses persistent bladder dysfunction Click Here to Read Mechanistic understanding of the cause and time course of comorbid symptoms for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are lacking. This paper describes how colitis triggers hypersensitivity of colonic afferents, neuroplasticity of spinal cord circuits, and chronic abdominal pain, which […]
Human Sensory Neurons: Membrane Properties & Sensitization by Inflammatory Mediators Click Here to Read Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from 141 human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) neurons from five young adult donors without chronic pain were performed. The data collected indicates that most small/medium hDRG neurons can be classified as nociceptors, respond directly to compounds that produce […]
Human Sensory Neurons: Membrane Properties & Sensitization by Inflammatory Mediators Click Here to Read Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from 141 human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) neurons from five young adult donors without chronic pain were performed. The data collected indicates that most small/medium hDRG neurons can be classified as nociceptors, respond directly to compounds that produce […]