%0 Journal Article
%T The role of cytokines and chemokines in the maintenance of chronic pain-a pilot study.
%A Lassen J
%A Leypoldt F
%A Hüllemann P
%A Janssen M
%A Baron R
%A Gierthmühlen J
%J Pain Rep
%V 9
%N 2
%D 2024 Apr
%M 38352023
暂无%R 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001135
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The immune system is believed to be important in the initiation and maintenance of chronic pain.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The aim was to investigate whether patients with chronic painful polyneuropathy (PP) differ in cytokine profiles of serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared with pain-free controls.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Thirty-nine patients (16 women and 23 men, mean age, 69.2 ± 12.7 years, range 41-92 years) with PP (mean duration 43 ± 48.3 months) were phenotyped with quantitative sensory testing and electroneurography, and serum and CSF samples were analyzed by 40-multiplexed, bead-based cytokine immunoassays. Results were compared with 36 age- and gender-matched patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus and absence of abnormal CSF findings.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Compared with controls, patients with PP had lower concentrations of several proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines in CSF, and others showed the same tendency, among these were tumor necrosis factor-α (14.1 ± 10.0 vs 23.9 ± 16.4 pg/mL, P < 0.005), interleukin (IL)-2 (0.6 ± 0.4 vs 1.2 ± 0.6 pg/mL, P < 0.0001), IL-6 (4.7 ± 6.8 vs 7.3 ± 9 pg/mL, P = 0.001), and IL-10 (7.5 ± 6.8 vs 16.8 ± 19.2 pg/mL, P < 0.01), whereas no differences were observed in serum.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Results suggest that (1) inflammatory mediators play a minor role in the maintenance of chronic pain in contrast to initiation of acute pain, (2) chemokines/cytokines are downregulated in chronic pain, or (3) chemokines/cytokines have a protective role for nerve regeneration that is disturbed in patients with chronic pain.