Reactive astrocytes in pain neural circuit pathogenesis

• Published in: Current opinion in neurobiology Vol. 75; p. 102584
• Main Author: Tang, Shao-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Astrocytes - physiology; Gliosis - pathology; Pain - pathology; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn - pathology
• ISSN: 0959-4388; 1873-6882; 1873-6882
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102584

Reactive astrocytes are commonly activated in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of various animal models of pathological pain. Previous investigations suggest an association between astrogliosis and pain pathogenesis. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying astrogliosis activation and the contributions of reactive astrocytes to pain neural circuit malfunction is rudimentary. This short review highlights recent advances in these areas. •Astrocytes modulate pain processing in neuronal circuits.•Astrogliosis is critical for pain pathogenesis induced by HIV-120 or chronic morphine.•Wnt5a is a neuron-to-astrocyte signal controlling the astrogliosis.•The Wnt5a-regulated astrogliosis leads to IL-1β activation.•The Wnt5a-regulated astrogliosis and IL-1β mediate neural circuit polarization in the spinal dorsal horn.