Sara Kelly

Contact

• workRoom C23 University of Nottingahm Veterinary Medicine and Science Building
  Sutton Bonington Campus
  Sutton Bonington
  Leicestershire
  LE12 5RD
  UK
• work0115 951 6130
• sara.kelly@nottingham.ac.uk

Research Summary

Primary sensory neurones and chronic pain

My work is currently focused on the role of primary sensory neurones in chronic pain conditions including arthritis, inflammation and nerve injury. Primary sensory neurones detect and transmit somatosensory information to the central nervous system and as a result the sensations of touch, pressure, warmth, cool, or pain are perceived. In chronic pain conditions a population of primary sensory neurones that respond to potentially tissue damaging stimuli and signal pain (nociceptors), exhibit increased sensitivity to external stimuli, as well as spontaneous activity. These aberrant responses are thought to play an important role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain states. Spontaneous firing in nociceptors has been linked to spontaneous pain sensations, arguably the most distressing and poorly understood aspect of chronic pain conditions. It is vital that we understand the mechanisms leading to these changes, in order that we can develop useful analgesics for these often difficult to treat conditions. Targeting of the peripheral nervous system will hopefully lead to the development of drugs that have fewer side effects.

Current work in my group is focused on the role of the peripheral cannabinoid receptor system in the modulation of inflammatory joint pain and on peripheral mechanisms of osteoarthritic joint pain.

Selected Publications

• KELLY, S. and DONALDSON, L.F., 2008. Peripheral cannabinoid CB1 receptors inhibit evoked responses of nociceptive neurones European Journal of Pharmacology. 586, 160-163
• KELLY, S., DUNHAM, J.P. and DONALDSON, L.F., 2007. Sensory nerves have altered function contralateral to a monoarthritis and may contribute to the symmetrical spread of inflammation. European Journal of Neuroscience. 26(4), 935-942
• SAGAR, D.R., KELLY, S., MILLNS, P.J., O'SHAUGHNESSEY, C.T., KENDALL, D.A. and CHAPMAN, V, 2005. Inhibitory effects of CB1 and CB2 receptor agonists on responses of DRG neurons and dorsal horn neurons in neuropathic rats. European Journal of Neuroscience. 22(2), 371-379
• KELLY,S. and CHAPMAN,V., 2003. Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor inhibition of mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurones in control rats, but not in rats with hindpaw inflammation. European Journal of Pharmacology. 474(2-3), 209-16

• View all publications

• KELLY S, DUNHAM JP, MURRAY F, READ S, DONALDSON LF, LAWSON SN and , 2012. Spontaneous firing in C-fibers and increased mechanical sensitivity in A-fibers of knee joint-associated mechanoreceptive primary afferent neurones during MIA induced osteoarthritis in the rat. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. (In Press.)
• KELLY, S. and DONALDSON, L.F., 2008. Peripheral cannabinoid CB1 receptors inhibit evoked responses of nociceptive neurones European Journal of Pharmacology. 586, 160-163
• DUNHAM, JP, KELLY, S and DONALDSON, LF, 2008. Inflammation Reduces Mechanical Thresholds In A Population Of Transient Receptor Potential Channel A1-Expressing Nociceptors In The Rat European Journal Of Neuroscience. 27(12), 3151-3160
• KELLY, S., DUNHAM, J.P. and DONALDSON, L.F., 2007. Sensory nerves have altered function contralateral to a monoarthritis and may contribute to the symmetrical spread of inflammation. European Journal of Neuroscience. 26(4), 935-942
• SAGAR, D.R., KELLY, S., MILLNS, P.J., O'SHAUGHNESSEY, C.T., KENDALL, D.A. and CHAPMAN, V, 2005. Inhibitory effects of CB1 and CB2 receptor agonists on responses of DRG neurons and dorsal horn neurons in neuropathic rats. European Journal of Neuroscience. 22(2), 371-379
• KELLY, S., JHAVERI, M.D., SAGAR, D.R., KENDALL, D.A. and CHAPMAN, V., 2003. Activation of peripheral cannabinoid CB₁ receptors inhibits mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurons in noninflamed rats and rats with hindpaw inflammation European Journal of Neuroscience. 18(8), 2239-2243
• KELLY,S. and CHAPMAN,V., 2003. Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor inhibition of mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurones in control rats, but not in rats with hindpaw inflammation. European Journal of Pharmacology. 474(2-3), 209-16
• KELLY, S. and CHAPMAN, V., 2002. Spinal administration of capsazepine inhibits noxious evoked responses of dorsal horn neurons in non-inflamed and carrageenan inflamed rats. Brain Research. 935(1-2), 103-108
• KELLY, SARA and CHAPMAN, VICTORIA, 2002. Effects of peripheral nerve injury on functional spinal VR1 receptors. NeuroReport. 13(9), 1147-50
• KELLY, S and CHAPMAN, V, 2001. Selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation inhibits spinal nociceptive transmission in vivo. Journal of Neurophysiology. 86(6), 3061-4
• KELLY, S and CHAPMAN, V, The effect of peripheral administration of a selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist on mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurons in anaesthetised rats. In: -