Sensory neuron heterogeneity in neuropathic pain: implications for precision analgesia

Purpose of review Neuropathic pain remains a major clinical challenge, with limited mechanism-based treatment options. This review summarizes recent advances in sensory neuron biology, with a particular focus on the transcriptomic and functional heterogeneity of nociceptive neurons and their implications for precision analgesic development. Recent findings Single-cell transcriptomics and multimodal approaches have revealed previously unrecognized sensory neuron diversity and dynamic state-dependent plasticity. Recent human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) atlases and Patch-seq studies have further demonstrated that neuronal identity arises from the interaction between transcriptional state and functional phenotype, thereby uncovering pain-relevant neuronal subtypes and novel therapeutic targets. Summary Sensory neurons emerge as transcriptionally diverse and dynamically regulated cellular states, rather than fixed neuronal classes. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics and multimodal profiling are refining our understanding of sensory neuron heterogeneity and providing new opportunities for mechanism-based therapeutic development in neuropathic pain.