Science Translational Medicine· 2026Q1
Elevated translocator protein in skull bone marrow is linked to human chronic pain
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Elevated levels of the translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of immune cell density, were found in the skull bone marrow (SBM) of individuals with chronic pain (n=125) compared to healthy controls (n=22).
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Key points
- TSPO levels are elevated in the skull bone marrow of individuals with chronic pain (n=125) compared to healthy controls (n=22).
- Elevations were observed in patients with chronic low back pain (n=88) and knee osteoarthritis (n=37).
- Higher TSPO levels were generally more pronounced in knee osteoarthritis patients than in chronic low back pain patients.
- TSPO elevations were associated with pain severity and comorbid symptoms, with partially segregated spatial patterns.
- Preliminary immunohistochemistry in human SBM samples supports these findings.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The skull bone marrow (SBM) is emerging as a critical hub for neuroimmune signaling, yet its role in chronic pain is unknown. Using integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, here, we show that the levels of 18-kilodalton translocator protein (TSPO), a putative marker of immune cell density, are elevated in the SBM of individuals with chronic pain [ n = 125; chronic low back pain (cLBP), n = 88; knee osteoarthritis (KOA), n = 37] compared with healthy controls ( n = 22). These elevations were widespread, generally more pronounced for KOA than cLBP, associated with pain and pain-comorbid symptoms in partially segregated spatial patterns, and supported by preliminary immunohistochemical evidence in human SBM samples from a donor with a history of chronic pain (compared with a healthy donor). Because TSPO is highly expressed in myeloid cells, these results link SBM immune dysregulation with chronic pain and its associated psychological and functional impairments. These findings provide a strong rationale for investigating this previously overlooked structure, which remains largely underexplored in the context of pain.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science Translational Medicine, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Physiology
PhysiologyMedicine