See commentary: Manzano-Garcia A, Gamal-Eltrabily M. A new role of growth hormone and insulin growth factor receptor type 1 in neonatalinflammatory nociception. PAIN Reports 2017:e608.
The authors provide a nice summary of our recent report on how growth hormone (GH) regulates neonatal inflammatory pain. We still need to understand how GH is downregulated during peripheral injury and how this reduction causes a paradoxical increase in sensory neuron IGFr1. To clarify, IGF-1 was not statistically increased in the skin as suggested. Furthermore, although not confirmed in vivo, in vitro data suggest direct effects of GH on neuronal IGFr1 expression. Nevertheless, this article highlights the next logical steps we are currently pursuing to elucidate mechanisms by which GH may provide neonatal analgesia.
Footnotes
The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.