Abstract:Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative joint disease characterized by chronic pain and dysfunction. Significant progress has been made in recent years in targeting the underlying mechanisms, therapeutic tools and translational medicine related to KOA pain sensitization. Increasing evidence suggests that the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the spinal ganglion is not only involved in injurious signaling, but its unique immune-neural interaction microenvironment also plays a key role in KOA pain sensitization.DRG macrophages, as an important mediator of the initiation and persistence of neuropathic pain, play an important role in the regulation of KOA pain sensitivity. Nowadays, the treatment of KOA pain is becoming more and more diversified, and simple anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments can no longer meet the needs of the public. Therefore, it has become crucial to explore the mechanism of KOA pain and to precisely intervene in KOA-related targets. In this review, we systematically elucidate the regulatory role of DRG macrophages in KOA nociceptive sensitization, deeply analyze the molecular mechanism of peripheral sensitization mediated by neuro-immune interactions, and discuss the medical value of targeted intervention of DRG macrophages for the precise treatment of KOA pain, with the aim of breaking through the precise mediating technology of targeted therapy at an early date, providing more comprehensive medical choices for KOA patients, and solving the global health challenge of KOA pain. global health challenge.
