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Modulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the Spinal Cord

  • Chapter
Pain Control

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 227))

Abstract

The central nervous system, and the spinal cord in particular, is involved in multiple mechanisms that influence peripheral inflammation. Both pro- and anti-inflammatory feedback loops can involve just the peripheral nerves and spinal cord or can also include more complex, supraspinal structures such as the vagal nuclei and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Analysis is complicated by the fact that inflammation encompasses a constellation of end points from simple edema to changes in immune cell infiltration and pathology. Whether or not any of these individual elements is altered by any potential mechanism is determined by a complex algorithm including, but not limited to, chronicity of the inflammation, tissue type, instigating stimulus, and state/tone of the immune system. Accordingly, the pharmacology and anatomical substrate of spinal cord modulation of peripheral inflammation are discussed with regard to peripheral tissue type, inflammatory insult (initiating stimulus), and duration of the inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Linda S. Sorkin

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  1. Linda S. Sorkin
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Correspondence to Linda S. Sorkin .

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  1. Institute of Physiology/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Hans-Georg Schaible

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Sorkin, L.S. (2015). Modulation of Peripheral Inflammation by the Spinal Cord. In: Schaible, HG. (eds) Pain Control. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 227. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46450-2_10

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