Probiotic Treatment Alleviates Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease Mice

Chronic pain is a primary complication for those suffering from sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder. The basis of chronic sickle cell disease pain is not completely resolved, and thus, analgesic offerings have limited efficacy. Using transgenic mice, our lab recently determined that the gut microbiota contributes to chronic sickle cell disease pain. Fecal material transplant from sickle cell disease mice into pseudo-germfree animals induced persistent mechanical and cold allodynia in recipients, phenotypes that mirrored donor behaviors.
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research