Peripheral nerve injury activates cells in the spinal cord called microglia. But how do such cells cause the ensuing chronic pain? It seems that they release a small protein that disrupts normal inhibition of pain signalling.
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Torsney, C., MacDermott, A. A painful factor. Nature 438, 923–924 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/438923a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/438923a
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