Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and Scripps Research Institute have identified a group of neurons in the brain’s brainstem that play a crucial role in regulating chronic pain. These Y1 receptor-expressing neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus remain persistently active during long-term pain states, continuously transmitting pain signals even after physical injuries have healed. The team discovered that these neurons can be silenced by neuropeptide Y (NPY), a signaling molecule released when the brain prioritizes other urgent survival needs like hunger or fear over pain. Rather than forming a distinct cluster, these Y1R neurons are scattered throughout different cell types in the brain, which may allow them to modulate various types of painful inputs across multiple circuits. These findings suggest new treatment possibilities, including targeting these neurons with drugs or using behavioral interventions like exercise and meditation to calm pain signals in the brain itself, rather than at the injury site.
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