The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain

Chronic pain frequently coexists with adverse emotions, including anxiety and depression, significantly affecting patients’ physical and psychological health as well as their quality of life. Changes in hippocampal synaptic architecture, neuronal injury, and diminished neurogenesis significantly con...

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Main Authors: Lei Chen, Li Zeng, Wu Li, Jiang-Shan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/6/10.31083/JIN27730
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author Lei Chen
Li Zeng
Wu Li
Jiang-Shan Li
author_facet Lei Chen
Li Zeng
Wu Li
Jiang-Shan Li
author_sort Lei Chen
collection DOAJ
description Chronic pain frequently coexists with adverse emotions, including anxiety and depression, significantly affecting patients’ physical and psychological health as well as their quality of life. Changes in hippocampal synaptic architecture, neuronal injury, and diminished neurogenesis significantly contribute to pain-related emotions. Microglia in the hippocampus are implicated in these pathologies. Stimulation or injury leads to microglial activation, which causes pain; prolonged pain causes microglia to continuously release pro-inflammatory factors that induce astrocyte activation, which mediates the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and abnormal neurogenesis. Concurrently, microglia exhibit aberrant phagocytosis and augmented pruning of hippocampal dendritic spines, which disrupts synaptic plasticity and influences hippocampal long-term potentiation, hence contributing to the emergence of negative emotions. Inflammatory responses in the brain are a prevalent pathological foundation for mood disorders and pain, and the activation or inhibition of microglia M1 polarization can influence pain-related emotions. This review elucidates the significance of hippocampal microglia activation, and their interactions with neurons in the hippocampus and astrocytes, in pain-related emotions.
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spelling doaj-art-0de0d6f4304c4b5ebf1cc2e82fabca772025-08-20T03:33:15ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience0219-63522025-06-012462773010.31083/JIN27730S0219-6352(24)00905-7The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of PainLei Chen0Li Zeng1Wu Li2Jiang-Shan Li3Department of Tuina, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410208 Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Tuina, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410208 Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Tuina, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410208 Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Tuina, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 410208 Changsha, Hunan, ChinaChronic pain frequently coexists with adverse emotions, including anxiety and depression, significantly affecting patients’ physical and psychological health as well as their quality of life. Changes in hippocampal synaptic architecture, neuronal injury, and diminished neurogenesis significantly contribute to pain-related emotions. Microglia in the hippocampus are implicated in these pathologies. Stimulation or injury leads to microglial activation, which causes pain; prolonged pain causes microglia to continuously release pro-inflammatory factors that induce astrocyte activation, which mediates the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and abnormal neurogenesis. Concurrently, microglia exhibit aberrant phagocytosis and augmented pruning of hippocampal dendritic spines, which disrupts synaptic plasticity and influences hippocampal long-term potentiation, hence contributing to the emergence of negative emotions. Inflammatory responses in the brain are a prevalent pathological foundation for mood disorders and pain, and the activation or inhibition of microglia M1 polarization can influence pain-related emotions. This review elucidates the significance of hippocampal microglia activation, and their interactions with neurons in the hippocampus and astrocytes, in pain-related emotions.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/6/10.31083/JIN27730hippocampusmicrogliapainpain-related emotion
spellingShingle Lei Chen
Li Zeng
Wu Li
Jiang-Shan Li
The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
hippocampus
microglia
pain
pain-related emotion
title The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
title_full The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
title_fullStr The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
title_full_unstemmed The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
title_short The Activation of Hippocampal Microglial Cells and Their Role in the Regulation of Pain
title_sort activation of hippocampal microglial cells and their role in the regulation of pain
topic hippocampus
microglia
pain
pain-related emotion
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/6/10.31083/JIN27730
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