Nature Communications (May 2017)

TRPV1 channels are critical brain inflammation detectors and neuropathic pain biomarkers in mice

  • Maria Cristina Marrone,
  • Annunziato Morabito,
  • Michela Giustizieri,
  • Valerio Chiurchiù,
  • Alessandro Leuti,
  • Marzia Mattioli,
  • Sara Marinelli,
  • Loredana Riganti,
  • Marta Lombardi,
  • Emanuele Murana,
  • Antonio Totaro,
  • Daniele Piomelli,
  • Davide Ragozzino,
  • Sergio Oddi,
  • Mauro Maccarrone,
  • Claudia Verderio,
  • Silvia Marinelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15292
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 18

Abstract

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TRPV1 is known to be expressed in peripheral structures and the spinal cord, especially for pain processing. Here the authors show that in the brain, in particular the anterior cingulate cortex, TRPV1 is functionally expressed in microglia; stimulation of TRPV1 activates microglia, which in turn affects glutamatergic neurotransmission.