Roles of noncoding RNAs in neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory (peripheral or central) nervous system. Most patients are associated with persistent or intermittent spontaneous pain. Intercellular interactions and molecular signaling underlie injury sensitization. These include abnormal expression of ion channels, epigenetic modulation, etc. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) mainly include microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA, and circular RNA. Recent studies have increasingly demonstrated the involvement of ncRNAs in the development and progression of neuropathic pain. This involves multiple regulatory mechanisms, including direct targeting of ncRNAs to downstream target genes, internal “sponge” regulation of ncRNAs, and a complex regulatory network between multiple ncRNAs and target genes. Within this comprehensive paper, a thorough analysis is conducted on the intricate biological functions of 3 distinct ncRNAs in relation to chronic neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the study investigates the utilization of animal models to better comprehend this condition and explores the promising possibilities of ncRNAs for diagnosing and treating neuropathic pain. The ultimate objective of this review is to offer fresh perspectives on the management and prevention of neuropathic pain.