Neuron–microglia interactions modulating neuropathic pain

Abstract Neuropathic pain arises from injury or disease to the sensory nervous system and is characterized by intense pain that is disproportionate to the stimulus. However, effective treatments remain limited, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Over the past two decades, studies have revealed that microglia—resident macrophages in the central nervous system—play an essential role in the development of neuropathic pain. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, microglia respond to nerve injury by altering cellular function and interacting with surrounding cells to enhance neuronal excitability that underlies pain hypersensitivity. This review summarizes the microglia–neuron interactions that occur in the spinal dorsal horn after peripheral nerve injury and explores recent findings on the potential of microglia to alleviate neuropathic pain.