IMPLICATIONS: The immune system not only contributes to inflammation, but also provides
localized analgesia. A depleted immune system results in a reduction of immune-derived …

Classically, pain sensation or suppression has been attributed exclusively to neuronal
circuits. This review challenges this notion and presents an expanded concept about the …

Background Inflammatory pain can be effectively controlled by an interaction of opioid
receptors on peripheral sensory nerve terminals with opioid peptides released from immune …

Recent findings have suggested a significant involvement of the immune system in the
control of pain. Immune cells contain opioid peptides that are released within inflamed tissue …

Background Opioid-containing leukocytes migrate to peripheral sites of inflammation. On
exposure to stress, opioid peptides are released, bind to opioid receptors on peripheral …

In inflammation, leucocytes containing opioid peptides migrate into the tissue. Opioid
peptides can be released and bind to opioid receptors on peripheral nerve terminals, which …

Inflammatory pain is the result of the interplay between pro-algesic and analgesic mediators.
To avoid central side effects, future analgesic therapy should be targeted at either selectively …

The analgesic effects of leukocyte-derived opioids have been exclusively demonstrated for
somatic inflammatory pain, for example, the pain associated with surgery and arthritis …

Opioid receptors are widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system as well
as in numerous nonneuronal tissues. Both animal models and human clinical data support …

Neuroimmune interactions control pain through activation of opioid receptors on sensory
nerves by immune-derived opioid peptides. Here we evaluate mechanisms of intrinsic pain …