Mast Cell-Mediated Mechanisms of Nociception.

This article is an example of how all systems are interrelated. It is a “law” that in my book I call “it all spins together.” Here we see the close relationship between the immune system (mast cells) and nociception, or pain perception.

I want to emphasize this quote from the article. ”

3. Role of Mast Cells in Pain Mast Cells reside near the nerve fibers, which makes them an ideal candidate for modulating neural activity and nociception.

What else resides near nerve fiber? Acupuncture points of course. I may not be the first to point this out, but it could prove to be important in the ongoing goal of improving acupuncture’s effectiveness.

Aich A, Afrin LB, Gupta K. Mast Cell-Mediated Mechanisms of Nociception. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(12):29069-29092. Published 2015 Dec 4. doi:10.3390/ijms161226151

Abstract

Mast cells are tissue-resident immune cells that release immuno-modulators, chemo-attractants, vasoactive compounds, neuropeptides and growth factors in response to allergens and pathogens constituting a first line of host defense. The neuroimmune interface of immune cells modulating synaptic responses has been of increasing interest, and mast cells have been proposed as key players in orchestrating inflammation-associated pain pathobiology due to their proximity to both vasculature and nerve fibers. Molecular underpinnings of mast cell-mediated pain can be disease-specific. Understanding such mechanisms is critical for developing disease-specific targeted therapeutics to improve analgesic outcomes. We review molecular mechanisms that may contribute to nociception in a disease-specific manner.

Keywords: mast cells, pain, migraine, cytokines, cancer, inflammation, substance P, tryptase, hyperalgesia, sickle cell disease

Introduction

Nociception is the process of transmitting sensation from the primary afferent neurons in the peripheral region to the brain via secondary neurons at the spinal cord level. Repetitive noxious stimulation of nociceptors contributes to central sensitization leading to chronic pain associated with number of diseases. Recently, interaction between immune and neural system, known as the neuroimmune interface, has been of immense interest for understanding the molecular mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization underlying chronic pain [17]. Increased MC counts, enhanced MC degranulation, associated innervation, increased substance P (SP) and correlated hyperalgesia have been implicated in various chronic pain-associated pathologies [18]. The paracrine interaction between MCs and neural system at various levels of nervous system is complex, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are beginning to emerge. Contribution of mast cells to nociception appears to be critical in diverse pathological conditions, which has been highlighted in recently reviewed literature [18,19]. Hence, we provide a comprehensive review focusing on the molecular mechanisms of MC-mediated pain in disease-specific pathobiology and its clinical relevance.