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 .
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz have discovered that exosomes, extracellular vesicles released by cells, may be responsible for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in some individuals who have had shingles. PHN is characterized by lingering pain that persists long after the varicella zoster virus (VZV) has cleared the body.
The study found that exosomes released during a shingles infection can cause nerve cells to become highly active and release inflammatory signals, even without the presence of the virus. These exosomes continue to deliver damaging messages to nerves, preventing them from recovering normally and leading to a "failure-to-resolve" model of PHN.
This new understanding of the role of exosomes in PHN may open the door to novel approaches for predicting, preventing, and treating the condition.
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