Research progress of microglia-P2X4 receptor in neuropathic pain / 医学研究生学报

Neuropathic pain is a typical chronic pain that has a great impact on the psychology and physiology of patients. Recent studies have shown that spinal microglial activation and the up-regulated expression of P2X4 receptor on its surface were occured after peripheral nerve injury. P2X4 receptor is an ionic subtype of ATP receptor, and was regulated by various factors under pathological conditions of nerve injury, such as chemokines, extracellular matrix fibronectin and interferon regulatory factor 5. Inhibition of microglial activation and P2X4 receptor expression can reduce neuropathic pain. Therefore, this article mainly describes the research progress of P2X4 receptor in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.