Ru‐Rong Ji

Epidermal cells sculpt sensory nerve endings through actomyosin contractility

The paper shows that epidermal actomyosin contractility controls sensory nerve ending positioning by pruning nerve fibers and establishing a mechanical boundary.

Combination spinal cord stimulation at different frequencies produces sustained pain relief with immune activation

This study shows that dual-frequency spinal cord stimulation produces long-lasting pain relief in rats and mice, associated with immune system activation and specific signaling pathways.

Protectin DX resolves fracture-induced postoperative pain in mice via neuronal signaling and GPR37-activated macrophage efferocytosis

This study shows that Protectin DX reduces postoperative pain after tibial fractures in mice by activating GPR37 and promoting macrophage efferocytosis and neuronal signaling.

NPD1/GPR37 axis protects painful traumatic brain injury and its complications

This study shows that NPD1/GPR37 signaling protects against TBI-induced neuropathic pain and its complications by modulating demyelination, glial responses, and neuroinflammation.

Distinct roles of general anesthesia activated CeA neurons in acute versus late phase of neuropathic pain

This study investigates the role of CeAGA neurons in acute and late-phase neuropathic pain, finding they have distinct effects on pain thresholds and anxiety behaviors.

Satellite glial GPR37L1 regulates maresin and potassium channel signaling for pain control

This study identifies GPR37L1 in satellite glial cells as a regulator of pain control through interactions with potassium channels and maresin 1, showing its role in neuropathic pain resolution.

Intrathecal administration of bone marrow stromal cells and TGF-β1 alleviate chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in male mice

This study shows that male mice benefit from intrathecal BMSCs and TGF-β1 for CIPN relief, while female mice do not, highlighting sex differences in pain modulation.

Sparcl1/Hevin drives inflammatory and neuropathic pain through astrocyte and NMDA receptor signaling

This study shows hevin, an astrocyte-secreted protein, maintains chronic pain through NMDA receptor signaling, and neutralizing hevin may offer new therapeutic strategies for pain and neurodegeneration.

PD-1 in hippocampal neurons regulates excitability, synaptic plasticity, and cognition

This study shows PD-1 in hippocampal neurons regulates excitability, synaptic plasticity, and cognition, with anti-PD-1 improving cognitive function in mice and primates.

A role for protease activated receptor type 3 (PAR3) in nociception demonstrated through development of a novel peptide agonist

The paper develops a PAR3 agonist and shows it induces mechanical hypersensitivity in mice, suggesting PAR3's role in nociception and plasticity.

Central opioid receptors mediate morphine-induced itch and chronic itch

This study shows that morphine-induced itch is mediated by central opioid receptors on spinal inhibitory interneurons, and chronic itch can be treated with CNS-targeted naloxone.

Repurposing cell growth-regulating compounds identifies kenpaullone which ameliorates pathologic pain via normalization of inhibitory neurotransmission

The paper identifies kenpaullone as a compound that enhances KCC2 expression and reduces pathologic pain by restoring inhibitory neurotransmission in mouse models.

Anti-PD-1 treatment as a neurotherapy to enhance neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity and memory

This study shows anti-PD-1 treatment enhances neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and memory in hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Morphine analgesia and mu opioid receptor signaling require programed death protein 1 (PD-1)

This study shows that PD-1 is required for morphine analgesia and MOR signaling in neurons, with PD-L1 enhancing morphine's pain-relieving effects.

Transcriptional Profiling of Somatostatin Interneurons in the Spinal Dorsal Horn

The paper identifies the transcriptomic profile of somatostatin-expressing interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn of mice, revealing novel genes and pathways relevant to mechanical pain.