Neuro-Immune Dialogue in Pain Onset and Maintenance: classical and novel targets

Pain affects millions of people worldwide, with its incidence and prevalence increasing every year. Chronic pain can represent the pathology itself, but it can also be a symptom related to other pathological conditions. It represents a significant social and individual burden, affecting the life quality of patients and their families. Additionally, in recent years, increasing evidence suggests a synergism between pain and psychiatric alterations. To date, the identification of mechanisms responsible to pain onset and maintenance is still an open challenge, as well as the identification of possible therapeutic targets. In this scenario, the interactions between the immune and nervous systems have recently attracted the attention of a large portion of the scientific community. During pathological conditions the bidirectional crosstalk between nervous and immune systems is responsible for the activation of a complex inflammatory cascade it may be associated with worsening pain.

The aim of this Research Topic is to implement the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of pain, with a particular focus on the interaction between the immune and nervous systems. Furthermore, we aim to identify new pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies capable of alleviating pain.

This Research Topic involves both clinical and preclinical studies. Original research and review are accepted. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to:

1. Study of the cellular and molecular pain mechanisms of different nature and origin (inflammatory, chronic, neuropathic, etc.);

2. Correlation between pain and neuroinflammation;

3. Contribution of the inflammatory cascade in pain: role of cytokines and chemokines;

4. Role of neuroglial activation in neuroinflammation and pain;

5. Pharmacological treatments: from drug repurposing to new frontiers;

6. Non-pharmacological treatments: nutraceuticals, diet and physical activity.