Activation of spinal macrophage-inducible C-type lectin induces mechanical allodynia and microglial activation in rats.

Macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle), a pattern recognition receptor, is a critical component of the innate immune system that is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. Previous studies have reported the expression of Mincle in neuronal and glial cells of the brain, but its expression and role in pain processing at the spinal level remain to be determined. The current study was performed to identify Mincle in the spinal cord and to investigate the effect of Mincle activation on spinal sensitization.