Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39545479›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of clinical investigation2025

Clinical measures in chronic neuropathic pain are related to the Kennedy and endocannabinoid pathways.

Stephanie L Bourke, Eva Gonzalez Suarez, Barira Islam, John Stephenson, David P Finn, Patrick C McHugh

Abstract read
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Article in European journal of clinical investigation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Stephanie L BourkePharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Eva Gonzalez SuarezCentre for Biomarker Research, School of Applied Sciences, Huddersfield, UK.
Barira IslamCentre for Biomarker Research, School of Applied Sciences, Huddersfield, UK.
John StephensonCentre for Biomarker Research, School of Applied Sciences, Huddersfield, UK.
David P FinnPharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Patrick C McHughCentre for Biomarker Research, School of Applied Sciences, Huddersfield, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0661-919X

Funding

British Pain SocietyIrish Research Council GOIPG/2019/3945Pain Relief Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a debilitating condition, often refractory to currently available drugs. Understanding biochemical alterations in peripheral tissues such as blood will be useful for understanding underlying pathophysiological processes relating to CNP.

methodsWe collected blood from two independent cohorts of CNP and pain-free controls (CNP n = 129/Controls n = 127) in the UK and Ireland to investigate the relationship between CNP-associated molecular/biochemical alterations and a range of clinical and pain metric parameters. Multiple statistical comparisons were conducted on the data, with selected variables included in one or more of the intended inferential analyses (six models).

resultsGene expression analysis showed that choline phosphotransferase (CHPT1) was increased (p < .001) in the CNP group compared to controls. The levels of phosphatidylcholine, a metabolite of CHPT1 in the Kennedy Pathway, were significantly (p = .008) decreased in the plasma of patients with CNP. Given the relationship between the Kennedy pathway and endocannabinoids, plasma endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamines were quantified in clinical samples by HPLC-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Plasma levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol were higher in CNP samples compared to controls, and in the statistical models applied, 2-arachidonoylglycerol significantly increased the odds of CNP (p < .001). The expression of genes related to the synthesis and catabolism of endocannabinoids also corroborated the increased plasma 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels in patients with CNP.

conclusionsEndocannabinoid levels, expression of genes related to endocannabinoid metabolism, age, sex, depression and anxiety state together were strong predictors of CNP. The observed molecular changes indicate that lipid metabolism is altered in CNP and thus may represent a viable target for novel analgesics or biomarker development.

Indexed as

Chronic PainEndocannabinoidsNeuralgiaAdultAgedArachidonic AcidsCase-Control StudiesEthanolaminesFemaleGlyceridesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhosphatidylcholinesArachidonic AcidsEndocannabinoidsEthanolaminesGlyceridesglyceryl 2-arachidonateN-acylethanolaminesPhosphatidylcholines2‐arachidonoylglycerolbiomarkercholine phosphotransferaseclinical neuropathic painendocannabinoidsphosphatidylcholine

Identifiers

PMID39545479
PMCPMC11744925

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.