Employment of Natural Killer Opioid Receptor as a Biomarker to Ameliorate the Efficacy of the Rehabilitation Program in a Patient-oriented Strategy
Chronic pain is a serious disorder that causes physical suffering and emotional distress. NK cells are cytotoxic granular cells playing a crucial role in innate immunity. Recent studies described modulation of the percentage of B lymphocytes and NK cells expressing the μ opioid receptor as a potential marker for measuring pain. Neuropathic pain sufferers have decreased NK cell function, highlighting the need of further investigating the effect of opioid receptor expression on lympoid cells defining their potential relevance as a pain monitor marker. Opioid receptors expressed on NK, B and T cells are a possible candidate for objective monitoring of pain in patients.
• IRCCS San Raffaele Roma patients who entered the neuro-rehabilitation program, aged 18 years older, able to sign a written informed consent.