Muscle-brain communication in pain: The key role of myokines

Abstract

Pain is the most common reason for a physician visit, which accounts for a considerable proportion of the global burden of disease and greatly affects patients' quality of life. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets involved in pain. Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is a well known phenomenon observed worldwide. However, the available evidence demonstrates that the mechanisms of EIH remain unclear. One of the most accepted hypotheses has been the activation of several endogenous systems in the brain. Recently, the concept that the muscle acts as a secretory organ has attracted increasing attention. Proteins secreted by the muscle are called myokines, playing a critical role in communicating with other organs, such as the brain. This review will focus on several myokines and discuss their roles in EIH.

Keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Exercise; Hypoalgesia; Muscle; Myokines.