Spontaneous activity of specific C-nociceptor subtypes from diabetic patients and mice: involvement of reactive dicarbonyl compounds and (sensitized) transient receptor potential channel A1.

Our translational findings suggest that TRPA1-expressing C-nociceptors, which in human correspond to mechanoinsensitive and in mice to polymodal nociceptors, are especially vulnerable to develop spontaneous activity. Those two different nociceptor classes might share the functional role as dicarbonyl-sensitive chemosensors and represent the critical nociceptor population that support the development of pain and hyperalgesia in diabetic neuropathy.