Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41542772›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical investigation2026

Protectin DX resolves fracture-induced postoperative pain in mice via neuronal signaling and GPR37-activated macrophage efferocytosis.

Yize Li, Sangsu Bang, Jasmine Ji, Jing Xu, Min Lee, Sharat Chandra, Charles N Serhan, Ru-Rong Ji

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical investigation, 2026. 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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yize LiCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Sangsu BangCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Jasmine JiCenter for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Jing XuCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Min LeeDepartment of Dermatology.
Sharat ChandraCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Charles N SerhanCenter for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Ru-Rong JiCenter for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Funding

Targeting checkpoint inhibitors for pain controlRF1NS131812 · NINDS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI RU-RONG JI · 2023 to 2026
$4.4M
Evaluating Resolution Mechanisms for Infectious InflammationR35GM139430 · NIGMS · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI SERHAN, CHARLES NICHOLAS · 2021 to 2025
$3.6M
Development of MMP-9 inhibitory monoclonal antibodies to relieve neuropathic painUG3NS143650 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · PI GE, XIN, JI, RU-RONG · 2025 to 2025
$2.1M
Developing equilibrative nucleoside transporter inhibitors as non-opioid pain therapeuticsR61NS138215 · NINDS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI HONG, JIYONG, JI, RU-RONG · 2024 to 2024
$1.6M
Resolvin receptor signaling in trigeminal sensory neuronsR03DE032394 · NIDCR · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI BANG, SANGSU · 2023 to 2024
$322k
NIDCR NIH HHS R03 DE032394NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM139430NINDS NIH HHS R61 NS138215NINDS NIH HHS RF1 NS131812NINDS NIH HHS UG3 NS143650
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Protectin DX (PDX) is a member of the superfamily of specialized proresolving mediators and exerts anti-inflammatory actions in animal models; however, its signaling mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the analgesic actions of PDX in a mouse model of tibial fracture-induced postoperative pain (fPOP). Intravenous early- and late-phase treatment of PDX (100 ng/mouse) effectively alleviated fPOP. Compared with protectin D1 (PD1)/neuroprotectin D1, DHA, steroids, and meloxicam, PDX provided superior pain relief. While dexamethasone and meloxicam prolonged fPOP, PDX shortened the pain duration. The analgesic effects of PDX were abrogated in Gpr37-/- mice, which displayed deficits in fPOP resolution. PDX was shown to bind GPR37 and induce calcium responses in peritoneal macrophages. LC-MS/MS-based lipidomic analysis revealed that endogenous PDX levels were approximately 10-fold higher than those of PD1 in muscle at the fracture site. PDX promoted macrophage polarization via GPR37-dependent phagocytosis and efferocytosis through calcium signaling in vitro, and it further enhanced macrophage viability and efferocytosis in vivo via GPR37. Finally, PDX rapidly modulated nociceptor neuron responses by suppressing C-fiber-induced muscle reflex in vivo and calcium responses in DRG neurons ex vivo and by reducing TRPA1/TRPV1-induced acute pain and neurogenic inflammation in vivo. Our findings highlight multiple benefits of PDX to manage postoperative pain and promote perioperative recovery.

Indexed as

Docosahexaenoic AcidsEfferocytosisMacrophagesMacrophages, PeritonealNeuronsPostoperative PainReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledSignal TransductionTibial FracturesAnimalsMaleMiceMice, KnockoutSpecialized Pro-Resolving MediatorsDocosahexaenoic AcidsGpr37 protein, mouseReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledCell biologyG protein-coupled receptorsMacrophagesNeurosciencePainTherapeutics

Identifiers

PMID41542772
PMCPMC12807480

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.