The sensitization of primary afferent nociceptors is essential to the development of inflammatory pain as well as to the development of most neuropathic pain. Recent advances in biology and medicine have introduced new technologies to study neuronal mechanisms underlying primary afferent nociceptors sensitization. Knowing and understanding these mechanisms have led to the development of animal models and revealed novel targets to the development of drugs that selectively act on primary afferent nociceptors and new conceptional idea about pain relief.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying primary afferent nociceptors sensitization involved in acute or persistent hyperalgesia. We are particularly interested in articles describing the new insights into inflammatory or neuropathic hyperalgesia using animal models, advances in the control of nociception or hyperalgesia by targeting primary afferent nociceptors, mechanism of action of drugs that act on primary afferent neurons, new strategies to control inflammatory or neuropathic hyperalgesia using neuroprotections, small molecules, ODN antisenses or SiRNA, and stem cells, and drugs' delivery to primary afferent neurons. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Recent development in the control of inflammatory or neuropathic hyperalgesia by targeting primary afferent neurons
• Identification of new targets in primary afferent neurons to control pain
• Signaling pathways involved in primary afferent nociceptors sensitization
• New animals models of inflammatory or neuropathic pain
• Mechanism of action of drugs that act on primary afferent neurons
• Role of dorsal root ganglia cells in inflammatory or neuropathic hyperalgesia
• Interactions between nonneuronal cells of the peripheral tissue (e.g., keratocytes, polymorphonuclear cells) and nociceptors

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