Involvement of advillin in somatosensory neuron subtype-specific axon regeneration and neuropathic pain

This study investigates the role of advillin, a protein found in sensory neurons, in axon regeneration and neuropathic pain. The researchers found that advillin is mainly expressed in a specific type of sensory neuron in adults and is important for these neurons to regrow after injury. When advillin is removed, these neurons have trouble regenerating, and the mice experience more pain. The researchers also found that advillin can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of mice with nerve damage, suggesting it could be a useful marker for diagnosing nerve problems. Advillin, found in sensory neurons, aids in axon regeneration and pain management. It modulates growth cone formation and is detectable in cerebrospinal fluid during neuropathy, potentially serving as a diagnostic marker.

• 1
  Advillin expression is restricted to isolectin B4-positive (IB4+) neurons in the adult dorsal root ganglia (DRG).
• 2
  Advillin knockout (KO) specifically impaired axonal regeneration in adult IB4+ DRG neurons.
• 3
  Advillin KO disturbed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced neural plasticity in the spinal-cord dorsal horn and aggravated neuropathic pain.