Title:Imbalance of Th1 and Th2 Cytokines and Stem Cell Therapy in
Pathological Pain
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Author(s): Yao-Qing Yu*Huan Wang*
Affiliation:
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
- Department of Dermatology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
Keywords:
Pathological pain, cytokines, Th1, Th2, stem cells, analgesia.
Abstract: The pathophysiological importance of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cell cytokines in pathological
pain has been highly debated in recent decades. However, the analgesic strategy targeting individual
cytokines still has a long way to go for clinical application. In this review, we focus on the contributions
of Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13)
in rodent pain models and human pain-related diseases. A large number of studies have shown that
Th1 and Th2 cytokines have opposing effects on pain modulation. The imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines
might determine the final effect of pain generation or inhibition. However, increasing evidence
indicates that targeting the individual cytokine is not sufficient for the treatment of pathological pain.
It is practical to suggest a promising therapeutic strategy against the combined effects of Th1 and Th2
cytokines. We summarize the current advances in stem cell therapy for pain-related diseases. Preclinical
and clinical studies show that stem cells inhibit proinflammatory cytokines and release enormous
Th2 cytokines that exhibit a strong analgesic effect. Therefore, a shift of the imbalance of Th1 and Th2
cytokines induced by stem cells will provide a novel therapeutic strategy against intractable pain. It is
extremely important to reveal the cellular and molecular mechanisms of stem cell-mediated analgesia.
The efficiency and safety of stem cell therapy should be carefully evaluated in animal models and patients
with pathological pain.