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Review
. 2023 Mar;43(2):511-523.
doi: 10.1007/s10571-022-01205-8. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

The Circadian Clocks, Oscillations of Pain-Related Mediators, and Pain

Yanhao Chu  1   2 , Hongwen He  2 , Qing Liu  1   2 , Shilin Jia  1   2 , Wenguo Fan #  3 , Fang Huang #  4   5
Affiliations
Review

The Circadian Clocks, Oscillations of Pain-Related Mediators, and Pain

Yanhao Chu et al. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

The circadian clock is a biochemical oscillator that is synchronized with solar time. Normal circadian rhythms are necessary for many physiological functions. Circadian rhythms have also been linked with many physiological functions, several clinical symptoms, and diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that the circadian clock appears to modulate the processing of nociceptive information. Many pain conditions display a circadian fluctuation pattern clinically. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the existing knowledge about the circadian clocks involved in diurnal rhythms of pain. Possible cellular and molecular mechanisms regarding the connection between the circadian clocks and pain are discussed.

Keywords: Circadian clocks; Circadian pain; Diurnal oscillations; Molecular clocks; Pain.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The central clock of the SCN and the peripheral clocks of different organs and cells
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The molecular feedback loops of the circadian clocks
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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