Macrophage-derived exosomes induce M2 microglial polarization to alleviate bone cancer pain.

ABSTRACT: Bone cancer pain (BCP) is a frequent and debilitating complication in patients with malignant tumors, arising from a multifactorial interplay of bone destruction, neural injury, and inflammatory responses. Microglia can polarize into either an M1 phenotype, which aggravates nociception, or an M2 phenotype, which facilitates pain resolution. Activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade is known to drive M1 polarization, thereby amplifying inflammation and neuronal damage. This study aimed to investigate whether macrophage-derived exosomes could mitigate BCP by modulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, suppressing M1 polarization, and enhancing M2 microglial polarization. In vitro, RAW264.7 macrophages were polarized to the M2 phenotype via IL-4 stimulation, and exosomes were subsequently

SUBMITTER: Xie J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12789913 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature