Induction of CX3CL1 Expression in Astrocytes and CX3CR1 in Microglia in the Spinal Cord of a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

This study shows that spinal nerve injury, but not peripheral inflammation, induces the expression of a chemokine, CX3CL1 (fractalkine), in astrocytes and upregulates CX3CR1 in microglia in the spinal cord. This selective regulation of CX3CL1 and its receptor, CX3CR1, suggests that these chemokines may represent new targets for the treatment of neuropathic pain.