Mol Pain
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Exosomes are extracellular microvesicles implicated in intercellular communication with ability to transfer cargo molecules, including protein, lipids, and nucleic acids, at both close and distant target sites. It has been shown that exosomes are implicated in physiological and pathological processes. In recent years, the interest on exosomes' role in many pain states has increased. ⋯ Specific molecular patterns characterize exosomes' cargo according to the cellular origin, epigenetic modifications, environmental state, and stressor factors. Therefore, the identification of specific cargo's profile associated to pain states may lead to recognize specific pathological states and to consider the use of exosomes as biomarkers of diseases. Furthermore, exosomes' ability to transfer information and their presence in many accessible biological fluids suggest a potential use as novel non-invasive therapeutic tools in pain field.
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Chronic postoperative pain affects approximately 20% of patients with knee osteoarthritis after total knee replacement. Circulating microRNAs can be found in serum and might act as biomarkers in a variety of diseases. The current study aimed to investigate the preoperative expression of circulating microRNAs as potential predictive biomarkers for the development of chronic postoperative pain in the year following total knee replacement. ⋯ This study showed that patients with a low postoperative pain relief present a dysregulation of circulating microRNAs. Altered circulatory microRNAs expression correlated with postoperative pain relief, indicating that microRNAs can serve as predictive biomarkers of pain outcome after surgery and hence may foster new strategies for preventing chronic postoperative pain after total knee replacement (TKR).