Protein involved in neuropathic pain may be cure

A team of international scientists have found a key protein in Schwann cells that plays a major role in the regulation of recovery of peripheral nerves after injury. This has implications with one of the least understood phenomenons today: neuropathic pain. This pain is estimated to effect over 100 million Americans in there lifetime.

Published yesterday in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers discussed the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. This pain is derived from damaged peripheral neurons that send incorrect signals back to the brain where they are misinterpreted. This pain is described as "pins and needles" or a hot or cold pain. Originally research focused on the peripheral neurons themselves, but the Schwann cells (a type of glial assisting cell) may have the key to curing this pain. Schwann cells promote growth and survival of neural cells by releasing tropic factors as well as releasing myelin to coat the axons of the peripheral cells. When Schwann cells are deficient, the peripheral neurons cannot heal themselves to the best of their ability (though neural healing is limited even with the assistance of other cell types). Researchers located a LRP1 protein which helps regulate the steps that lead to eventual nerve regeneration. They are now looking into a drug that will mimic the LRP1 protein to enhance the ability of the Schwann cells to help the nerves regenerate.

I found this article interesting because of my interest in neurology, and it being a possible career choice. I find all of these new research extremely interesting. Hopefully I will not have to have a personal interest in neuropathic pain due to experience.