Les cellules gliales : leur rôle dans la douleur chronique

Glial cells are now highly recognized as important actors of central nervous system physiology. A remarkable series of findings over the last decade has demonstrated a previously unrecognized role for glial cells in many aspects of neuronal functioning, including chronic pain processing. The nervous system is able to initiate signals that alter the function of glial cells, and these cells in turn release factors that regulate neuronal function. This new role is characterized by the term “tetrasynapse”, involving both pre- and postsynaptic neuronal elements and astrocytes and microglial cells, putting together a single functional set of elements particularly important in chronic pain processing.