Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) is a prevalent long-term health complication in survivors of pediatric cancer, often emerging later in life. Current analgesic treatments are ineffective, reflecting our lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind CINP. A study in Disease Models & Mechanisms shows that early exposure to cisplatin causes neuroinflammation and nociception mediated by monocytes and macrophages. Cisplatin treatment in neonatal rats induced delayed pain with increased CD45-positive monocyte/macrophage infiltration. Mouse neuron cultures exposed to cisplatin-activated macrophage medium showed nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)-mediated nociceptive activity. Treatment with an NGF-neutralizing antibody inhibited the nociceptive activity. Similar pain reduction occurred in vivo with NGF-neutralizing antibody injections, highlighting NGF’s role in cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain. These results shed light on cancer survivorship pain mechanisms, which can lead to new therapeutics to reduce pain.
Original reference: Lobo, M.V. et al. Dis. Model. Mech. 17, dmm052062 (2024)
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