Monocytes and macrophages in tissues are known to play active roles in pain by producing a range of pronociceptive molecules. These include cytokines, neurotrophins, and prostaglandins that can activate nerves by binding to their cognate receptors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that induce sensitization by activation or up-regulation... See more

We identified that disease-modified macrophages exhibit increased expression of IGF-1 in an in vitro model of endometriosis-associated macrophages and confirmed expression by lesion-resident macrophages in mice and women. Concentrations of IGF-1 were elevated in peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis and positively correlate with their pain... See more