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Mast cells in the pathogenesis of chronic back pain: a hypothesis
Author(s) -
Freemont Anthony J.,
Jeziorska Maria,
Hoyland Judith A.,
Rooney Paul,
Kumar Shant
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1107
Subject(s) - pathogenesis , neurotrophin , medicine , mast cell , pathophysiology , angiogenesis , chronic pain , neovascularization , nerve growth factor , neurotrophic factors , intervertebral disc , back pain , pathology , neuroscience , immunology , anatomy , biology , receptor , alternative medicine , psychiatry
The pathophysiology of chronic low back pain is poorly understood, mainly because it is difficult to study experimentally or objectively. Recently it has been found that there is a relationship between neovascularization and innervation of the usually avascular and aneural intervertebral disc at the sites of discogenic pain. These data, together with the recognized involvement of mast cells in tissue repair, in the induction of angiogenesis, and in the production of and response to neurotrophic stimuli such as nerve growth factor, has suggested the hypothesis that mast cells may have a causative role in chronic low back pain. If so, the mast cell may represent an attractive therapeutic target. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.