I saw this link on the American Pain Foundation website and thought it was worth a thread here. The research is in rodents only so this is nowhere near a treatment but it potentially represents a new avenue to attack neuropathic pain. A group at UCSD School of Medicine has identified a protein LRP1 that may help to ease neuropathic pain by blocking the response of glial cells that support and protect sensory neurons in the peripheral nervous system.

"The UCSD studies show that a form of LRP1 that is present in body fluids such as blood counteracts the activity of inflammatory cytokines, proteins which are involved in developing and sustaining chronic pain states. Cytokines act as messengers to either stimulate or inhibit the immune response, are produced by many cell types including white blood cells present during infection and inflammation."

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/535944/?sc=dwhp

Alkymst

qualify as a 'rodent' for testing?
Could not blood tests for traces of "LRP1" be done to carry on 'research' in the human realm? Suppose it's too simple or elemenatary or...something.

GOOD FIND! The American Pain foundation and it's international counterpart are doing stuff by leaps and bounds! It is hard to keep up with them! Seems at times, these foundations are addressing my questions as I find the words to ASK them! Smart, no super-smart bunch of brains working for US!
Well, IF wishes were horses we'd all be driving Mustangs? or something... - j

Great find Alkymst, thanks for sharing.
Brian

If they need blood to work on or even a body to experiment with, they sure can have mine. I qualify much more than those poor rats. The RA, Sjogren's and other injuries give me a continous supply of cytokines. This research is a wonderful step that may someday help people like me. Great article! Thanks a lot!

Billye