Laboratory of Pain Research

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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.

About the Laboratory

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.

Projects

Neuroimmune interactions in Neuropathic pain

Neurosteroids and Pain

Clinical and preclinical study on Diabetic Neuropathy pain

The Role of KCTD16 Protein in Pain Modulation

Anadamide dual effects on nociceptive spinal cord signalling under control and pathological conditions.

Anadamide precursor mediates inhibitory effects on synaptic transmission through TRPV1 receptors activation.

Duvelisib, a PI3Kδ/γ inhibitor FDA approved for treatment of leukemia, prevents the development of neuropathic pain in a model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Bradykinin potentiates pain hypersensitivity by endogenous TRPV1 agonist.

Purinergic signalling in the suprachiasmatic and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus

Ion channels and electrical excitability of pituitary cells

20:4-NAPE induced changes of mechanical sensitivity and DRG neurons excitability are concentration dependent and mediated via NAPE-PLD.

Neurosteroids: positive and negative allosteric P2X receptor modulators

Chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain

Losartan attenuates neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy

The effectivity of opioid analgesics is reduced by CCL2 chemokine

Chillies can reduce the pain

Inhibition effect of NAPE at spinal cord level

The role of PAR2 receptors in modulation of nociceptive signalling at the spinal cord level

The role of spinal TRPV1 receptors in CCL2-induced hyperalgesia

Special projects

Popularization

Týden mozku

ČT24, 17.3. 2024

Pozvánka na Festival Týden mozku. V pořadu Věda24 vystupuje Jiří Paleček. (8,50 min vysílání)

Týden mozku

ČT24, 17.3. 2024

Ve Studiu ČT24 přibližuje Jiří Paleček témata, která představuje letošní Týden mozku (42 min. vysílání).

Proč chilli papričky pálí?

ČT1 (Studio 6), 22.1. 2022

Rozhovor s Jiřím Palečkem ve víkendovém Studiu 6 (7,24).

Nobelovu cenu za fyziologii a lékařství dostali vědci za objev receptorů, které vnímají teplo a hmat

ČT24, 4.10. 2021

Jiří Paleček komentuje udělení letošní Nobelovy ceny za fyziologii a lékařství, kterou obdrželi David Julius a Ardem Patapoutian za objev receptorů zodpovědných za vnímání teploty a hmatu.

Nobelovy ceny za fyziologii 2021

ČT24, 4.10. 2021

Jiří Paleček jako host Daniela Stacha ve speciálním pořadu k udělení Nobelovy ceny za fyziologii.

Za objev receptorů teploty a hmatu. Nobelova cena míří ke dvěma americkým molekulárním biologům

Český rozhlas Plus, 4.10. 2021

Pálivá paprička bolest vyvolá, ale i tlumí

aktualne.TV, 18.3.2015

Daniela Drtinová v rozhovoru s MUDr. Palečkem k tématu výzkumu, jehož cílem je odstranit chronické bolesti.

Publications

Čiháková; Jana - Ivetic; Milorad - Zemková; Hana Cell Type-Specific Expression of Purinergic P2X Receptors in the Hypothalamus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(11); 5007.

IF = 4.9

Slepička; Jakub - Paleček; Jiří Glial Activation Enhances Spinal TRPV1 Receptor Sensitivity in a Paclitaxel Model of Neuropathic Pain. Physiological Research. 2025; 74(4); 677-691.

IF = 2

Bhattacharyya; Anirban - Vasconcelos; Daniel - Špicarová; Diana - Paleček; Jiří 20:4-NAPE induced changes of mechanical sensitivity and DRG neurons excitability are concentration dependent and mediated via NAPE-PLD. Scientific Reports. 2025; 15(1); 14131.

IF = 3.9

Sivčev; S. - Constantin; S. - Smiljanic; K. - Sokanovic; S. J. - Fletcher; P. A. - Sherman; A. S. - Zemková; Hana - Stojilkovic; S. S. Distribution and calcium signaling function of somatostatin receptor subtypes in rat pituitary. Cell Calcium. 2024; 124(Dec.); 102967.

IF = 4.0

Špicarová; Diana - Paleček; Jiří Anandamide-Mediated Modulation of Nociceptive Transmission at the Spinal Cord Level. Physiological Research. 2024; 73(Suppl.1); S435-S448.

IF = 2.0