TY  - JOUR
TI  - Is neuroinflammation the common thread in chronic pain? Recent advances and implications of the role of glial cells
AU  - Natoli, Silvia
AU  - Fornasari, Diego Maria
AU  - Cuomo, Arturo
AU  - Topi, Giulia
AU  - D’Auria, Luigi
AU  - Lo Bianco, Giuliano
AU  - Ilardi, Marcella
AU  - Ferrari, Federica
AU  - Grandini, Filippo
AU  - Marchesini, Maurizio
PY  - 2026
JO  - Exploration of Immunology
VL  - 6
SP  - 1003254
DO  - 10.37349/ei.2026.1003254
UR  - https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/1003254
AB  - The intricate involvement of glial cells in chronic pain mechanisms represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of pain processing. From microglial-mediated neuroinflammation to astrocytic modulation of synaptic function, glial cells emerge as critical players in the complex neurobiology of chronic pain. As research continues to unravel the multifaceted roles of these cells, novel therapeutic targets and strategies are likely to emerge, potentially revolutionizing the management of chronic pain conditions. Chronic pain is complicated by frequent comorbidities such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders. Here, we hypothesize that neuroinflammatory processes are at the root of pain chronification and serve as the common thread linking characteristic hypersensitivity with the cognitive and emotional comorbidities typically associated with chronic pain.
ER  -