Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Driver of Chronic Pain: New Insights and Therapeutic Prospects - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #Chronic pain
- #Mitochondrial dysfunction
- #Neuropathic pain
- Chronic pain is a major global health issue often resistant to standard pain treatments.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is identified as a key driver of chronic pain, not just a result of injury.
- Bioenergetic failure, marked by ATP depletion and electron transport chain defects, is central to pain chronification.
- Oxidative stress, calcium overload, and neuroinflammation contribute to neuronal hyperexcitability in chronic pain.
- Impaired mitophagy, suppressed biogenesis, and abnormal mitochondrial dynamics disrupt mitochondrial quality control.
- Mitochondria-targeted therapeutic strategies show promise for treating chronic pain.
- Future research should focus on biomarkers and neuro-glial immune interactions for precision medicine in pain management.