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Laboratory of Pain Research

Laboratory of Pain Research Neuronal activity recorded in spinal cord (A) by patch-clamp (B). Optical stimulation of neurons with chanelorhodopsin (C) evokes inhibitory currents in excitatory neurons (D) that are reduced under pathological conditions (E) and contribute to pain.

The main research interest of our Laboratory is to study mechanisms of pain and to explore new possibilities of pain treatment, especially in chronic states. Our experimental work is concentrated on the modulation of nociceptive information at the spinal cord level that is the relay center between the periphery and the higher brain areas. Our goal is to study these modulatory mechanisms in order to improve therapy for pain conditions, such as allodynia, hyperalgesia, neuropathic and cancer related pain. Our focus is on the role of TRPV1, purinergic P2X receptors and inflammatory cytokines. In our research we use mainly electrophysiological, optogenetic, immunohistochemical and behavioral methods.

The cellular and molecular neuroendocrinology group, led by Dr. Zemkova, is studying the relationship between the structure and function of P2X receptor channels and their role in electrical activity, calcium signaling, neurotransmitter and hormone release in neuroendocrine cells.

Projects

Publications

Pontearso; Monica - Slepička; Jakub - Bhattacharyya; Anirban - Špicarová; Diana - Paleček; Jiří . Dual effect of anandamide on spinal nociceptive transmission in control and inflammatory conditions . Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2024; 173(April); 116369 . IF = 7.5 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Zemková; Hana . Purinergic P2 Receptors: Structure and Function 2.0 . International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(6)); 5462 . IF = 5.6 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Špicarová; Diana - Nerandžič; Vladimír - Mužík; David - Pontearso; Monica - Bhattacharya; Anirban - Nagy; I. - Paleček; Jiří . Inhibition of synaptic transmission by anandamide precursor 20:4-NAPE is mediated by TRPV1 receptors under inflammatory conditions . Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 2023; 16(22 June)); 1188503 . IF = 4.8 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Sivčev; Sonja - Kudová; Eva - Zemková; Hana . Neurosteroids as positive and negative allosteric modulators of ligand-gated ion channels: P2X receptor perspective . Neuropharmacology. 2023; 234(Aug 15)); 109542 . IF = 4.7 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Rupert; Marian - Bhattacharya; Anirban - Sivčev; Sonja - Knězů; Michal - Cimická; Jana - Zemková; Hana . Identification of residues in the first transmembrane domain of the P2X7 that regulates receptor trafficking; sensitization; and dye uptake function . Journal of Neurochemistry. 2023; 165(6); 874-891 . IF = 4.7 [ASEP] [ doi ]

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People

Jiří Paleček, MD, PhD
Head of the Laboratory
Mgr. Diana Špicarová, Ph.D.
Deputy Head of the Laboratory
RNDr. Hana Zemková, CSc.
Senior Researcher
Anirban Bhattacharya, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher
Mgr. Petra Mrózková, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
RNDr. Pavel Adámek, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mgr. Mario Heleš, Ph.D.
PhD Student
Mgr. Jakub Slepička
PhD Student
Mgr. Monica Pontearso
PhD Student
  Mgr. Marian Rupert
PhD Student
  Mgr. Sonja Sivcev
PhD Student
 

Mgr. Jana Cimická

PhD Student

 

Mgr. Daniel Vasconcelos

PhD Student

 

David Mužík

Student

 

Anna Kratinová

Student

 

Denisa Dresslerová

Student

Ing. Hana Janoušková
Technician
Kateřina Kramerová
Technician