Key targets for managing the maladaptative response to chronic inflammatory pain

Functional studies showed a critical role of descending facilitation in the establishment of pain chronicity. While the electrophysiological properties of brainstem areas have been extensively studied, changes in brainstem plasticity in pain disorders remain unknown. Thus, our aims are (i) to investigate the impact of experimental chronic pain upon the density, structure, and function of brainstem neuronal and glial cells, correlating it with changes in nociceptive behaviours, and (ii) to assess which morpho-functional abnormalities and nociceptive impairments can be improved by treatment with selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. By pinpointing chronic pain-induced impairments and tackling them pharmacologically, we expect to provide a ground for the development of better therapeutic strategies.

Funding Agency

None

Project Reference

–

Project Members

Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro

Assistant Researcher Project Leader

Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho

Clinician-Researcher

Diana Rodrigues

PhD Student

Inês Laranjeira

PhD Student

Main Project Outcomes

Fonseca-Rodrigues, D., Almeida, A., & Pinto-Ribeiro, F. (2022). A New Gal in Town: A Systematic Review of the Role of Galanin and Its Receptors in Experimental Pain. Cells, 11(5), 839. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11050839

Fonseca-Rodrigues, D., Gonçalves, J., Laranjeira, I., Almeida, A., & Pinto-Ribeiro, F. (2022). Sucrose intake and preference by Wistar Han rats are not influenced by sex or food/water deprivation. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 216, 173387. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173387

Fonseca-Rodrigues, D., Laranjeira, I., Barbosa, J., Lamas, N. J., Amorim, D., Almeida, A., & Pinto-Ribeiro, F. (2021). Nociceptive, emotional, electrophysiological, and histological characterization of the chronic constriction injury model in female Wistar Han rats. Brain research bulletin, 167, 56–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.11.018

Fonseca-Rodrigues, D., Rodrigues, A., Martins, T., Pinto, J., Amorim, D., Almeida, A., & Pinto-Ribeiro, F. (2021). Correlation between pain severity and levels of anxiety and depression in osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 61(1), 53–75. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keab512

Fonseca-Rodrigues, D., Amorim, D., Almeida, A., & Pinto-Ribeiro, F. (2021). Emotional and cognitive impairments in the peripheral nerve chronic constriction injury model (CCI) of neuropathic pain: A systematic review. Behavioural brain research, 399, 113008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113008

Ferreira, H., Amorim, D., Lima, A. C., Pirraco, R. P., Costa-Pinto, A. R., Almeida, R., Almeida, A., Reis, R. L., Pinto-Ribeiro, F., & Neves, N. M. (2021). A biocompatible and injectable hydrogel to boost the efficacy of stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases treatment. Life sciences, 287, 120108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120108

Lima, A. C., Amorim, D., Laranjeira, I., Almeida, A., Reis, R. L., Ferreira, H., Pinto-Ribeiro, F., & Neves, N. M. (2021). Modulating inflammation through the neutralization of Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α by biofunctionalized nanoparticles. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society, 331, 491–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.02.001