Acute nociceptive pain is a key defence system that enables the detection of danger signals that threaten homeostasis and survival. However, chronic pain (such as the neuropathic pain that occurs after peripheral nerve injury) is not simply a consequence of the continuity of acute nociceptive signals but rather of maladaptive nervous system function. Over recent decades, studies have provided evidence for the necessity and sufficiency of microglia for the alterations in synaptic remodelling, connectivity and network function that underlie chronic pain and have shed light on the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. It is also becoming clear that microglia have active roles in brain regions important for the emotional and memory-related aspects of chronic pain. Recent advances in the development of new drugs targeting microglia and the establishment of new sources of human microglia-like cells may facilitate translation of these findings from bench to bedside.

急性伤害性疼痛是一种关键防御系统，可以检测威胁稳态和生存的危险信号。但是，慢性疼痛（例如周围神经损伤后发生的神经性疼痛）不仅是急性伤害感受信号连续性的结果，而且还不是适应不良的神经系统功能的结果。在最近的几十年中，研究提供了证据证明小胶质细胞对于突触重塑，连接性和网络功能变化的必要性和充分性，这些变化是慢性疼痛的基础，并阐明了潜在的分子和细胞机制。同样清楚的是，小胶质细胞在大脑区域中起积极作用，这对于慢性疼痛的情绪和记忆相关方面很重要。