Research
The Krock Lab investigates how interactions between the nervous system, the immune system and the microbiome regulate chronic pain. We combine approaches from neuroscience, immunology and microbiology by utilizing animal models and behaviour, human tissue samples and clinical data, mammalian and bacterial flow cytometry, sequencing, and advanced microscopy. Our long-term goal is to better understand how neuroimmune interactions regulate chronic pain in order to improve pain management and develop novel diagnostic tests. Currently the lab has two major research themes.
Investigating the development of pain-inducing autoantibodies
Emerson was part of the team that identified a potential role for pain-inducing autoantibodies in fibromyalgia. Now, the Krock Lab is investigating how pain-inducing antibodies could be developing because of changes in fibromyalgia patients’ microbiome. Specifically, we are investigating how the gut microbiome of fibromyalgia patients stimulates an abnormal immune response which could produce cross-reactive antibodies that promote pain.
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Determining the role of extracellular matrix remodelling in the dorsal root ganglia during chronic pain
The cell bodies of sensory neurons, including those that sense pain, are located in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The neurons and other DRG resident cells including macrophages, fibroblasts and satellite glia cells, are surrounded by extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is composed of macromolecules that provide biochemical and biomechanical support to cells and changes to the ECM can impact cell function and behaviour. Our hypothesis is that immune cell-mediated remodelling of the ECM that surrounds the DRG sensory neuron cell bodies promotes and maintains pain.