The CCL17/CCL22–CCR4 Axis in Pain Pathogenesis: A Comprehensive Review of Immune-Mediated Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

The role of C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 17 and CCL22 signalling has been demonstrated in allergic disorders, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, as well as multiple types of neoplastic disorders. New evidence has identified that CCL17/CCL22 activation of the receptor CCR4 functions to mediate pain, with distinct roles in arthritic, neuropathic, and inflammatory postoperative pain. CCR4 blockade is suggested to prevent the development of neuropathic pain by inhibiting microglia activation and the subsequent increase in pronociceptive cytokines. CCL17 can also play a key role in the pathophysiology of arthritic pain. Further, CCL17 expression is increased in response to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Both CCL17 and CCL22, produced by skin-resident dendritic cells in response to incisional wounds, bind CCR4 expressed on peripheral sensory neurons, directly inducing pain signalling. These findings suggest that CCR4 may represent a therapeutic target for reducing pain. Understanding the role of CCR4 in the process of pain may also provide essential insight into the development of these therapeutic agents. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the current literature on the role of the immune system in the inflammatory pain response, with a specific focus on the role of CCL17 and CCL22 activity in the pathophysiology of pain. Also, we discuss the potential for therapeutically targeting CCR4 and its clinical implications.