Data from: Translatome analysis reveals distinct spinal cord astrocyte gene signatures in acute and chronic pain

Astrocytes coordinate neuronal signaling in physiological conditions but
can also drive neuroinflammation in pathophysiologic conditions, such as
chronic pain. How and when astrocyte molecular pathways change in response
to pain-inducing peripheral injury is key to understanding the
acute-to-chronic pain transition. Here, we utilize translating ribosome
affinity purification technology in a mouse model of complex regional pain
syndrome to uncover the functional molecular signature of spinal
astrocytes early and late post-injury. We find that astrocytes exhibit a
temporally distinct translatome with most significant gene expression
changes occurring acutely after injury. We further identify astrocyte
lipid metabolism as altered after injury and demonstrate that lipid
droplets (marked by PLIN2) accumulate in the spinal dorsal horn in the
chronic post-injury phase. Overall, this work provides an
astrocyte-specific translatome resource for understanding spinal astrocyte
contributions to pain and highlights spinal cord lipid metabolism as a
pathway of interest in pain pathophysiology.