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脂质运载蛋白-2介导慢性疼痛和瘙痒的神经免疫机制

崔夏林, 孙世宇, 马君怡, 周国坤, 刘通^*

南通大学特种医学研究院，南通 226019

摘要

脂质运载蛋白-2 (lipocalin 2, LCN2)是lipocalin超家族的一员，在多种细胞中表达和分泌，是甾体、脂多糖、铁和脂肪酸等亲脂小分子的转运蛋白。 LCN2 在疼痛调节中具有重要作用，尤其参与炎症性疼痛和神经病理性疼痛的发生与维持，其作用机制涉及神经炎症调控及神经元-胶质细胞交互作用的调节。LCN2 在瘙痒调控中也表现出显著效应，通过结合特定受体并激活下游信号通路，参与慢性瘙痒的诱发与持续过程。本文综述了LCN2 在慢性疼痛与瘙痒调控基础研究中的最新进展，并探讨了其作为治疗靶点的潜在价值，以期为开发新的治疗策略提供理论依据。

关键词： 脂质运载蛋白-2; 疼痛; 瘙痒; 胶质细胞; 铁代谢

Neuroimmune mechanisms of lipocalin 2 in mediating chronic pain and itch

CUI Xia-Lin, SUN Shi-Yu, MA Jun-Yi, ZHOU Guo-Kun, LIU Tong^*

Institute of Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China

Abstract

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a member of the lipocalin superfamily, is expressed and secreted by various cells and functions as a transport protein for lipophilic small molecules such as steroids, lipopolysaccharides, iron and fatty acids. LCN2 plays a significant role in pain modulation, particularly in the development and maintenance of inflammatory pain and chronic neuropathic pain. Its mechanisms involve the regulation of neuroinflammation and the modulation of neuron-glia interactions. LCN2 also demonstrates notable effects in itch regulation, where it binds to specific receptors and activates downstream signaling pathways, contributing to the induction and persistence of chronic itch. This review summarizes recent advances in the fundamental research on LCN2 in the regulation of chronic pain and itch, and discusses its potential value as a therapeutic target, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing novel treatment strategies.

Key words: lipocalin 2; pain; itch; gliocyte; iron metabolism

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通讯作者：刘通　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0105

引用本文：

崔夏林, 孙世宇, 马君怡, 周国坤, 刘通. 脂质运载蛋白-2介导慢性疼痛和瘙痒的神经免疫机制[J]. 生理学报 2026; 78 (1): 57-70.

CUI Xia-Lin, SUN Shi-Yu, MA Jun-Yi, ZHOU Guo-Kun, LIU Tong. Neuroimmune mechanisms of lipocalin 2 in mediating chronic pain and itch. Acta Physiol Sin 2026; 78 (1): 57-70 (in Chinese with English abstract).