Exosomes Linked to Nerve Irritation, Dysfunction, and Lingering Pain After Shingles
The study suggests that exosomes in the blood may promote the continued nerve irritation and dysfunction that underly why some people with shingles experience lingering pain long after the varicella zoster virus has cleared the body. The post Exosomes Linked to Nerve Irritation, Dysfunction, and Lingering Pain After Shingles appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
A University of Colorado Anschutz study reveals that exosomes in the blood may be responsible for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a persistent nerve pain experienced by some individuals who have recovered from shingles. Exosomes are microscopic packages released by cells that transport proteins and molecules throughout the body. PHN occurs when the varicella zoster virus (VZV) has cleared the body but exosomes continue to send harmful messages to nerve cells, keeping them in a state of inflammation and dysfunction.
Researchers found that exposing healthy nerve cells in a lab to exosomes from PHN patients triggered the same harmful changes typically seen during a viral infection, even without the presence of the virus. The study suggests a "failure-to-resolve" model, where the nervous system becomes trapped in a cycle of inflammation and abnormal nerve remodeling, preventing nerves from healing properly.
This new understanding could lead to novel approaches for predicting, preventing, and treating PHN, including the potential development of therapies that target exosomes to alleviate pain.
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