Resolvins in Chronic Pain

RESOLVINS IN CHRONIC PAIN Chronic pain is a complicated disorder that can be influenced as much by mood and personal experience as it can by persistent inflammation or unresolved pain. In some cases when pain is constantly relayed through the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, a sort of imprint or pain memory is cre- ated, leading to chronic pain. Resolvins can dampen the nerve transmission that leads to chronic pain by acting both at the peripheral nerve and in the spine. Dorsal horn Spinal cord Dorsal root ganglion Nerve Resolvin Nociceptive neuron ChemR23 receptor TRPV1 receptor RESOLVIN RECEPTORS IN THE SPINE Resolvins have been shown to act by indirectly inhibiting the capsaicin receptors called transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). But they may also reduce inflammation by acting on the ChemR23 receptor, which is expressed along with the TRPV1 receptor on the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Although it is unclear exactly how the ChemR23 receptor interacts with the TRPV pathway, it appears to be important for the pain-relieving activity of resolvin E1 by blocking the signaling protein ERK. LUCY READING-IKKANDA FOR THE SCIENTIST, JANUARY 2012