Enkephalin-mediated modulation of basal somatic sensitivity by regulatory T cells in mice.

CD4CD25Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Treg) have been implicated in pain modulation in various inflammatory conditions. However, whether Treg cells hamper pain at steady state and by which mechanism is still unclear. From a meta-analysis of the transcriptomes of murine Treg and conventional T cells (Tconv), we observe that the proenkephalin gene (), encoding the precursor of analgesic opioid peptides, ranks among the top 25 genes most enriched in Treg cells.