Neuroimmune Interactions in Pain: From Central and Peripheral Neuroinflammation to Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Pain is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon involving sensory, cognitive, and emotional components. Despite advances in neuroscience, effective pain management remains a challenge due to the limitations of current therapies and their associated side effects. Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of neuroimmune interactions in pain processing, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems, with neuroinflammation playing a pivotal role in chronic pain pathophysiology.

This Research Topic focuses on the interplay between the immune system, neurons, and glial cells, including both central (microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes) and peripheral glia (satellite glial cells (SGCs) and Schwann cells), and their contribution to pain persistence and pathogenesis. Dysfunctional neuroimmune signaling is implicated in chronic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuropsychiatric disorders, making it a crucial target for novel pharmacological interventions.

We invite research articles that explore neuroimmune and neuroinflammatory pathways in pain processing and their implications for therapeutic development, particularly those investigating:

- Peripheral and central neuroimmune contributions to chronic pain: The role of satellite glial cells (SGCs) and Schwann cells in peripheral neuroinflammation and their impact on sensory neuron excitability.
- Pharmacological modulation of glial activity: Investigating how drugs targeting microglia, astrocytes, SGCs, and Schwann cells can reduce pain and neuroinflammation.
- Sexual dimorphism in neuroimmune pain mechanisms: Understanding how sex differences shape neuroimmune interactions and responses to pharmacological interventions.
- Neuroimmune and neuroinflammatory mechanisms in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders: Examining the intersection of chronic pain, neuroinflammation, and diseases such as Alzheimer's and depression.
- Translational pharmacology and novel therapeutic strategies: Bridging basic neuroimmune research with clinical applications to develop innovative targeted pain therapies.

Through this collection, we aim to foster new insights into the neuroimmune basis of pain and drive innovation in pain management strategies by targeting both central and peripheral neuroinflammatory pathways.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Neuroimmune signaling, pain management, pain, neurodegenerative conditions, neuropsychiatric conditions., Peripheral Neuroinflammation, Central Neuroinflammation, Therapeutic Strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.