Mol Pain
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Exosomes are extracellular microvesicles implicated in intercellular communication with ability to transfer cargo molecules, including protein, lipids, and nucleic acids, at both close and distant target sites. It has been shown that exosomes are implicated in physiological and pathological processes. In recent years, the interest on exosomes' role in many pain states has increased. ⋯ Specific molecular patterns characterize exosomes' cargo according to the cellular origin, epigenetic modifications, environmental state, and stressor factors. Therefore, the identification of specific cargo's profile associated to pain states may lead to recognize specific pathological states and to consider the use of exosomes as biomarkers of diseases. Furthermore, exosomes' ability to transfer information and their presence in many accessible biological fluids suggest a potential use as novel non-invasive therapeutic tools in pain field.
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Visceral pain is a common clinical symptom, which is caused by mechanical stretch, spasm, ischemia and inflammation. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) with lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) protein is an inherited disorder that is characterized by moderate or severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. Previous studies reported that FXS patients have self-injurious behavior, which may be associated with deficits in nociceptive sensitization. ⋯ Last, we found that zymosan treatment led to increase of FMRP levels in the ACC. These results were further confirmed in SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Our findings demonstrate that FMRP is required for NMDA GluN2B and AC1 upregulation, and GluN2B/AC1/FMRP forms a positive feedback loop to modulate visceral pain.