Energy-metabolic interference as novel experimentaltherapeutic intervention for pathological forms of pain (A07)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Human Genetics ; Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 255156212

In the previous funding period, we determined that spinal energy metabolism ––more specifically spinal astrocytic glycogen dynamics that we found to be triggered by inflammatory pain–– promotes spinal plasticity to aggravate pain hypersensitivity and pain maintenance. In the last funding period, we aim to further probe the metabolic pathways that fuel pain-induced plasticity in the spinal cord. We expect that we will not only gain detailed insight into the metabolic changes that occur in the spinal cord during noxious stimulation but also how astrocytic-neuronal metabolic coupling and metabolite flux effects pain behaviour in mice and whether energy-metabolic pathways can be harnessed for analgesic therapy.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1158: From nociception to chronic pain: Structure-function properties of neural pathways and their reorganisation
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Hilmar Bading, from 7/2019 until 6/2023; Professor Dr. Jan Siemens