Insulin sensitizes mechanosensitive ion channels, which aggravates pain

Insulin potentiates the response to capsaicin in dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro and muscle afferents ex vivo in normal healthy rodents

“…Although there is less evidence that TRPV1 plays a role in mechano-sensitivity under normal conditions (Nishihara et al 2011), it has been established that TRPV1 is associated with the development of mechanical hypersensitivity under some conditions (Fujii et al 2008;Walder et al 2012;Ota et al 2013). Thus, it is possible that TRPV1 is responsible for the insulin-induced potentiation in mechano-sensitivity we previously reported (Majhi & Pourteymour, 2020). In the wake of the current findings, this is of considerable interest as increased sensitivity to both mechanical and chemical stimuli in the periphery may be mediated by similar mechanisms.…”

“…2013). Thus, it is possible that TRPV1 is responsible for the insulin‐induced potentiation in mechano‐sensitivity we previously reported (Majhi & Pourteymour, 2020). In the wake of the current findings, this is of considerable interest as increased sensitivity to both mechanical and chemical stimuli in the periphery may be mediated by similar mechanisms.…”

“…This is known as insulin neuritis or treatment-induced diabetic neuropathy (Hwang & Davies, 2016). Although the mechanisms have yet to be elucidated (Nicodemus et al 2017), sensitization of TRPV1 is a clear candidate for this nociceptive channel overactivity (Majhi & Pourteymour, 2020). Second, TRPV1, located on thin-fibre muscle afferents, has been suggested to be a key receptor contributing to muscle metaboreflex-induced increases in blood pressure (Smith et al 2010;Mizuno et al 2011;Li & Garry, 2020).…”