# Cellular and Molecular Role of CXCR4 signaling in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $740,625

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Diabetes affects 25.8 million people in the USA. Neuropathic pain is a debilitating affliction present in 26% of
diabetic patients, with substantial impact on the quality of life. Despite this significant impact and prevalence,
current therapies for neuropathic pain are only partially effective and the molecular mechanisms underlying
neuropathic pain in diabetes are not well understood.
 Our long-term goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for PDN in order to provide
targets for the development of therapeutic agents for the effective treatment of this syndrome.
 The objective of this application is to identify the molecular cascade linking CXCR4/SDF-1
chemokine signaling to DRG nociceptor hyper-excitability, neuropathic pain, and small fiber degeneration. The
study will achieve the following specific aims.
 Aim 1: Determine the ion-channel current profile of the nociceptor hyper-excitable state produced by
CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling in PDN.
 Aim 2. Determine the gene expression profile of the nociceptor hyper-excitable state produced by
CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling in PDN.
 Aim 3. Determine the specific features of nociceptor mitochondrial dysfunction produced by
CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling in PDN.
 The overall impact of this proposal is a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of
neuropathic pain and small fiber degeneration associated with diabetes. Furthermore, the proposed research
will have a positive impact by identifying unique molecular targets for mechanism-based therapeutic
development in PDN.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9823898
- **Project number:** 5R01NS104295-03
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniela M Menichella
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $740,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9823898

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9823898, Cellular and Molecular Role of CXCR4 signaling in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (5R01NS104295-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9823898. Licensed CC0.

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