Enkephalin-mediated modulation of basal somatic sensitivity by regulatory T cells in mice. 28 August 2024

Regulatory T cells (Treg), identified by the markers CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, are known to modulate pain in various inflammatory conditions. However, their role in pain regulation in the absence of inflammation and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In a recent publication (eLife, doi:10.7554/eLife.91359), Dr. Gilles MARODON’s team at CIMI, in collaboration with research groups from Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand, clarified the mechanisms behind this relationship between the immune and nervous systems. Using genetically modified mice to eliminate the precursor gene for analgesic enkephalins in Treg cells, the researchers observed heat hypersensitivity in the mice, without impairing their suppressive function. These findings suggest that Treg cells may play a crucial role in modulating baseline somatic sensitivity in mice through the production of analgesic opioid peptides. The implications of this work in humans remain to be demonstrated, but it opens up new perspectives for manipulating the immune system to combat chronic pain.