Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is a major public health problem caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory system. A series of pathophysiological events, including neuronal hyperexcitability, changes in perineuronal homeostasis and neurogenic inflammation, gives rise to neuropathic pain, which is characterised by increased responses to nociceptive stimuli (hyperalgesia), unpleasant and abnormal sensation (dysesthesia) and pain in response to light tactile stimuli (allodynia). Clinically, many neuropathic pain conditions are inadequately treated by existing therapies, and novel druggable targets are warranted to improve their management.

A growing body of work has explored the potential molecular mechanisms and novel targets of neuropathic pain. Even so, a better understanding of new treatments and intervention approaches is still needed. Molecular, cellular and functional analysis of the nervous system, combined with behavioural confirmation, can further deepen our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms, while candidate compounds and novel targets can provide a more robust scientific basis for clinical therapeutic treatment.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to collect original research studies as well as review and perspective articles that provide a comprehensive understanding of novel neuropathic pain-associated molecules and signalling pathways, from either human or animal studies. We welcome advances in “omics” technologies, such as genome sequencing, proteomics and metabonomics, together with further functional confirmation. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of various types of neuropathic pain, including but not limited to cancer pain, diabetic neuropathic pain, chemotherapy-induced pain, chronic postoperative pain and postherpetic neuralgia, will be considered. We anticipate that new targets for the development of pain medications will arise from wet lab studies on these newly identified pain-associated molecules and signal transduction pathways.

We invite contributions spanning molecular, cellular, functional and translational research on neuropathic pain. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Novel molecules and signalling pathways associated with neuropathic pain
• Mechanisms of neuronal hyperexcitability, perineuronal homeostasis and neurogenic inflammation
• Molecular, cellular and functional analysis of the nervous system with behavioural confirmation
• “Omics” approaches (genome sequencing, proteomics, metabonomics) with functional validation
• Mechanisms of specific pain types: cancer pain, diabetic neuropathic pain, chemotherapy-induced pain, chronic postoperative pain and postherpetic neuralgia
• Identification and validation of novel druggable targets and candidate compounds
• Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord contributions to neuropathic pain
• Translational studies bridging mechanistic discovery and clinical therapeutic treatment

We encourage a wide range of submissions, including original research, methods papers, brief research reports, data reports, systematic reviews, mini reviews and perspectives.

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
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... 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
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Neuropathic Pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, dysesthesia, DRG, spinal cord

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.