Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) exerts protective effects against ischemia and inflammation in the central nervous system. However, its role in neuropathic pain is still unclear. This study was undertaken to explore the distribution and possible mechanism of HO-1 in a mouse model of peripheral nerve injury. ⋯ HO-1 upregulation could elicit potent analgesic effects against neuropathic pain, which might partly be attributed to inhibition of spinal microglia activation. HO-1 signaling pathway may present a novel strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain.