Aubin Moutal
@aubinmoutal.bsky.social
Assistant professor at Saint Louis University. Mechanisms of autoimmunity leading to chronic pain.
Pinned
Aubin Moutal
@aubinmoutal.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Hello ! 👋 I’m an assistant professor at Saint Louis University. My lab studies autoimmune mechanisms driving the transition from protective pain to chronic pain. Excited to connect with this vibrant science community! 🌟 #ChronicPainResearch #Neuroscience
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Also happy to see that our rat DRG dataset is now online at Journal of Pain. www.jpain.org/article/S152... Big thanks to Sydney Caparaso and Becky Wachs for leading this effort along with @ish1789.bsky.social and I. Rats and mice and humans are not the same, oh my!
Single-nuclei RNA Sequencing Reveals Distinct Transcriptomic Signatures of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia in a Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain Model
Chronic low back pain (LBP), often correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration,
is a leading source of disability worldwide, yet remains poorly understood. Current
treatments often fail to provid...
www.jpain.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Also happy to see that our rat DRG dataset is now online at Journal of Pain. www.jpain.org/article/S152... Big thanks to Sydney Caparaso and Becky Wachs for leading this effort along with @ish1789.bsky.social and I. Rats and mice and humans are not the same, oh my!
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
The BIG DRG paper is now up on @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... so many people worked so hard to make this happen. Props to the whole PRECISION Human Pain Network.
A Reference Atlas of the Human Dorsal Root Ganglion
Somatosensory perception largely emerges from diverse peripheral sensory neurons whose cell bodies reside in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Damage or dysfunction of DRG neurons is a major cause of chronic...
www.biorxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
The BIG DRG paper is now up on @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... so many people worked so hard to make this happen. Props to the whole PRECISION Human Pain Network.
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
#NIHfunding via the HEAL initiative for the PRECISION Human Pain Network has yielded a massive increase in data on human sensory neurons. One of the most amazing collaborations I've been part of. Data sharing across 4 centers, insights from experts across the network that really moved the needle.
The BIG DRG paper is now up on @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... so many people worked so hard to make this happen. Props to the whole PRECISION Human Pain Network.
A Reference Atlas of the Human Dorsal Root Ganglion
Somatosensory perception largely emerges from diverse peripheral sensory neurons whose cell bodies reside in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Damage or dysfunction of DRG neurons is a major cause of chronic...
www.biorxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
#NIHfunding via the HEAL initiative for the PRECISION Human Pain Network has yielded a massive increase in data on human sensory neurons. One of the most amazing collaborations I've been part of. Data sharing across 4 centers, insights from experts across the network that really moved the needle.
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Using quantitative proteomics and cross-omic analyses of human dorsal root ganglia, @aliibarry.bsky.social et al. show evidence for sexual dimorphism in TNFα signaling spanning the epigenetic signature to proteomic differences. Learn more in #PAIN bit.ly/42cM5wC
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Using quantitative proteomics and cross-omic analyses of human dorsal root ganglia, @aliibarry.bsky.social et al. show evidence for sexual dimorphism in TNFα signaling spanning the epigenetic signature to proteomic differences. Learn more in #PAIN bit.ly/42cM5wC
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
The latest work from our PRECISION Human Pain Center project is now up on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social led by Katherin Gabriel and @oliviadavis.bsky.social with a huge contribution from @allanhpool.bsky.social's lab and, of course, the Southwest Transplant Alliance: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A molecular map of the human spinal dorsal and ventral horn defines arrangement of neuronal types and glial sex differences
The spinal cord is the gateway for sensory information from the body as it ascends to the brain, as well as a major motor output center of the nervous system. It is also a key location for sensory-mot...
www.biorxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The latest work from our PRECISION Human Pain Center project is now up on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social led by Katherin Gabriel and @oliviadavis.bsky.social with a huge contribution from @allanhpool.bsky.social's lab and, of course, the Southwest Transplant Alliance: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Thrilled to share our latest preprint using single nuq sequencing and Xenium to define neuron organisation and sex differences in glia within human spinal cord. Truly a collaborative effort, with a big shoutout to Katherin Gabriel and @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A molecular map of the human spinal dorsal and ventral horn defines arrangement of neuronal types and glial sex differences
The spinal cord is the gateway for sensory information from the body as it ascends to the brain, as well as a major motor output center of the nervous system. It is also a key location for sensory-mot...
www.biorxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Thrilled to share our latest preprint using single nuq sequencing and Xenium to define neuron organisation and sex differences in glia within human spinal cord. Truly a collaborative effort, with a big shoutout to Katherin Gabriel and @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
In case you missed it: A new US population-based analysis shows significant increases in the prevalence of chronic #pain in the wake of the pandemic. The upsurges were clear for almost all pain sites considered in the study, including #migraine/head pain.
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
Chronic Pain Prevalence after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Troubling Findings - Migraine Science Collaborative
A new US population-based analysis shows significant increases in the prevalence of chronic pain, and of high-impact chronic pain, in the wake of the pandemic. The upsurges were apparent for almost al...
migrainecollaborative.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
In case you missed it: A new US population-based analysis shows significant increases in the prevalence of chronic #pain in the wake of the pandemic. The upsurges were clear for almost all pain sites considered in the study, including #migraine/head pain.
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
🚨 Please RT!
We’re recruiting a motivated postdoc to dissect the neurocircuits of affective pain.
Expertise in behavioral models of pain/SUDs, stereotaxy, microscopy, opto/chemogenetics, or fiber photometry encouraged.
Apply 👉 recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10647
#Neuroscience #Postdoc
We’re recruiting a motivated postdoc to dissect the neurocircuits of affective pain.
Expertise in behavioral models of pain/SUDs, stereotaxy, microscopy, opto/chemogenetics, or fiber photometry encouraged.
Apply 👉 recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10647
#Neuroscience #Postdoc
Postdoctoral Research Position
University of California, Los Angeles is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.apo.ucla.edu
October 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
🚨 Please RT!
We’re recruiting a motivated postdoc to dissect the neurocircuits of affective pain.
Expertise in behavioral models of pain/SUDs, stereotaxy, microscopy, opto/chemogenetics, or fiber photometry encouraged.
Apply 👉 recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10647
#Neuroscience #Postdoc
We’re recruiting a motivated postdoc to dissect the neurocircuits of affective pain.
Expertise in behavioral models of pain/SUDs, stereotaxy, microscopy, opto/chemogenetics, or fiber photometry encouraged.
Apply 👉 recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10647
#Neuroscience #Postdoc
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
huge news for T-type Ca channels: ir.praxismedicines.com/news-release...
ir.praxismedicines.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
huge news for T-type Ca channels: ir.praxismedicines.com/news-release...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
New pre-print from @phar.cam.ac.uk & Bellefroid lab at ULB! Led by @mayadannawi.bsky.social w support from @interlukein.bsky.social & more! We investigate impact of overexpressing the zinc finger transcriptional regulator Prdm12 on sensory neuron function / joint pain. #neuroskyence #PainResearch
AAV-mediated overexpression of Prdm12 in knee-innervating afferents reduces inflammatory joint pain and neuronal hyperexcitability in mice
Inflammatory joint pain features in numerous musculoskeletal disorders that affect millions globally. The Prdm12 gene encodes a conserved zinc finger transcriptional regulator expressed selectively in...
www.biorxiv.org
October 16, 2025 at 6:29 AM
New pre-print from @phar.cam.ac.uk & Bellefroid lab at ULB! Led by @mayadannawi.bsky.social w support from @interlukein.bsky.social & more! We investigate impact of overexpressing the zinc finger transcriptional regulator Prdm12 on sensory neuron function / joint pain. #neuroskyence #PainResearch
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
18 years since the Khanna lab began! Grateful to all the amazing trainees, collaborators, and to @ninds.bsky.social for their support. Excited for the next decade of chronic pain discoveries. Let’s keep the science cool, rigorous, and impactful! 🔬💥 #ChronicPain #CRMP2 #Nav1.7 #NeuroScience
September 5, 2025 at 1:12 PM
18 years since the Khanna lab began! Grateful to all the amazing trainees, collaborators, and to @ninds.bsky.social for their support. Excited for the next decade of chronic pain discoveries. Let’s keep the science cool, rigorous, and impactful! 🔬💥 #ChronicPain #CRMP2 #Nav1.7 #NeuroScience
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Fascinating new work reveals how anti-CV2/CRMP5 autoantibodies may be a potential driver of neuropathic pain in paraneoplastic syndromes. This mechanistic insight suggests a new therapeutic approach for patients. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Anti-CV2/CRMP5 autoantibodies as drivers of sensory neuron excitability and pain in rats - Nature Communications
Lung and thymoma cancer patients often suffer from autoimmunity and related painful neuropathies. Here the authors show that patient-derived anti-CRMP5 autoantibody binds to rat dorsal root ganglia to...
www.nature.com
September 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Fascinating new work reveals how anti-CV2/CRMP5 autoantibodies may be a potential driver of neuropathic pain in paraneoplastic syndromes. This mechanistic insight suggests a new therapeutic approach for patients. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
So excited to share our preprint uncovering FGFR3 autoantibodies as pathogenic drivers of pain sensitization.
Using patient serum, human DRG and rat models, we found that autoantibodies can find FGFR3 on sensory neurons to induce hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity.
#PainResearch #Autoimmunity
Using patient serum, human DRG and rat models, we found that autoantibodies can find FGFR3 on sensory neurons to induce hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity.
#PainResearch #Autoimmunity
Pathogenic Role of FGFR3 Autoantibodies in Small Fiber Neuropathy
Sensory neuronopathies (SNN) and small fiber neuropathies (SFN) are debilitating disorders associated with neuropathic pain, yet their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Autoantibodies ag...
www.biorxiv.org
October 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
So excited to share our preprint uncovering FGFR3 autoantibodies as pathogenic drivers of pain sensitization.
Using patient serum, human DRG and rat models, we found that autoantibodies can find FGFR3 on sensory neurons to induce hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity.
#PainResearch #Autoimmunity
Using patient serum, human DRG and rat models, we found that autoantibodies can find FGFR3 on sensory neurons to induce hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity.
#PainResearch #Autoimmunity
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
MSC News: A US population-based analysis shows significant increases in chronic pain prevalence, and of high-impact chronic pain, after the pandemic. The upsurges were apparent for almost all pain sites considered in the study, including head/migraine pain.
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
Chronic Pain Prevalence after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Troubling Findings - Migraine Science Collaborative
A new US population-based analysis shows significant increases in the prevalence of chronic pain, and of high-impact chronic pain, in the wake of the pandemic. The upsurges were apparent for almost al...
migrainecollaborative.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
MSC News: A US population-based analysis shows significant increases in chronic pain prevalence, and of high-impact chronic pain, after the pandemic. The upsurges were apparent for almost all pain sites considered in the study, including head/migraine pain.
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
migrainecollaborative.org/chronic-pain...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Attending #SfN2025 in San Diego☀️? Don’t miss the Dorris Neuroscience Center Symposium at @scripps.edu, happening right before the meeting. A great lineup of speakers to kick off your SfN week. Plan your trip accordingly and register for free here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dorris-neu...
Please amplify!
www.eventbrite.com/e/dorris-neu...
Please amplify!
October 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Attending #SfN2025 in San Diego☀️? Don’t miss the Dorris Neuroscience Center Symposium at @scripps.edu, happening right before the meeting. A great lineup of speakers to kick off your SfN week. Plan your trip accordingly and register for free here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dorris-neu...
Please amplify!
www.eventbrite.com/e/dorris-neu...
Please amplify!
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Our new preprint is up! This is the main postdoc work of @wiesner-t.bsky.social focusing on exocytosis along the axon shaft and its regulation by the sub membrane actin-spectrin scaffold: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Read the thread below for a summary of our findings 🧵1/11
Read the thread below for a summary of our findings 🧵1/11
September 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Our new preprint is up! This is the main postdoc work of @wiesner-t.bsky.social focusing on exocytosis along the axon shaft and its regulation by the sub membrane actin-spectrin scaffold: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Read the thread below for a summary of our findings 🧵1/11
Read the thread below for a summary of our findings 🧵1/11
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
1st paper from Sadler Lab is out!! Highlights: 1) A. muciniphila reverses sickle cell (SCD) pain, 2) fecal transplant from SCD mice induces pain via bilirubin-TRPM2 vagal signaling, 3) BilR+ bacteria less abundant in SCD patient poo, 4) RNAseq on HUMAN nodose ganglia! www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Gut microbiota and metabolites drive chronic sickle cell disease pain in mice
Brandow et al. describe how the gut microbiome drives chronic sickle cell disease
(SCD) pain. SCD guts contain excessive heme catabolites, fewer bacteria that metabolize
bilirubin, and low levels of A...
www.cell.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM
1st paper from Sadler Lab is out!! Highlights: 1) A. muciniphila reverses sickle cell (SCD) pain, 2) fecal transplant from SCD mice induces pain via bilirubin-TRPM2 vagal signaling, 3) BilR+ bacteria less abundant in SCD patient poo, 4) RNAseq on HUMAN nodose ganglia! www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
New method development work from our lab that I hope will make it easier for labs to work with peripheral nervous system tissues recovered from organ donors, tissue donors, and fast autopsies: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... This work was led by the amazing duo of Joe Lesnak and Mandee Schaub
September 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
New method development work from our lab that I hope will make it easier for labs to work with peripheral nervous system tissues recovered from organ donors, tissue donors, and fast autopsies: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... This work was led by the amazing duo of Joe Lesnak and Mandee Schaub
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Well, well, well: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Role of β-Arrestin 2 in the antinociceptive and side effect profile of morphine and the novel mu opioid receptor agonists, kurkinorin and kurkinol - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Role of β-Arrestin 2 in the antinociceptive and side effect profile of morphine and the novel mu opioid receptor agonists, kurkinorin and kurkinol
www.nature.com
September 3, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Well, well, well: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Interested in a sabbatical in Lyon? The Collegium de Lyon provides accommodation and attractive interdisciplinary environment for 1 or 2 semesters. Open to all disciplines. You can be affiliated with any local department/lab. Apply now for 2026-27. collegium.universite-lyon.fr/2026-2027-un...
September 2, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Interested in a sabbatical in Lyon? The Collegium de Lyon provides accommodation and attractive interdisciplinary environment for 1 or 2 semesters. Open to all disciplines. You can be affiliated with any local department/lab. Apply now for 2026-27. collegium.universite-lyon.fr/2026-2027-un...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
First grant since joining @cincychildrens.bsky.social has been awarded!! Excited to get to work on NIH HEAL Initiative "Early-Stage Discovery of New Pain Targets Within the Understudied Druggable Proteome" with the de la Pena lab!!! #PainResearch
August 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
First grant since joining @cincychildrens.bsky.social has been awarded!! Excited to get to work on NIH HEAL Initiative "Early-Stage Discovery of New Pain Targets Within the Understudied Druggable Proteome" with the de la Pena lab!!! #PainResearch
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
BOOM! Cool to see the final form of this great work now published. Deep new insight into human peripheral neuropathy. Congrats @mheming.bsky.social and colleagues on a great study.
Very proud that our human PNS atlas is finally published in @natcomms.nature.com We found perineurial hyperplasia and lipid-associated nerve macrophages in #polyneuropathies.
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
August 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
BOOM! Cool to see the final form of this great work now published. Deep new insight into human peripheral neuropathy. Congrats @mheming.bsky.social and colleagues on a great study.
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
Very proud that our human PNS atlas is finally published in @natcomms.nature.com We found perineurial hyperplasia and lipid-associated nerve macrophages in #polyneuropathies.
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Very proud that our human PNS atlas is finally published in @natcomms.nature.com We found perineurial hyperplasia and lipid-associated nerve macrophages in #polyneuropathies.
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Explore: pns-atlas.mzhlab.com
A tweetorial 1/13
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by Aubin Moutal
This work is finally online as in-press preview!
JCI - Cell and molecular profiles in peripheral nerves shift toward inflammatory phenotypes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy www.jci.org/articles/vie...
JCI - Cell and molecular profiles in peripheral nerves shift toward inflammatory phenotypes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy www.jci.org/articles/vie...
JCI -
Cell and molecular profiles in peripheral nerves shift toward inflammatory phenotypes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
www.jci.org
August 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This work is finally online as in-press preview!
JCI - Cell and molecular profiles in peripheral nerves shift toward inflammatory phenotypes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy www.jci.org/articles/vie...
JCI - Cell and molecular profiles in peripheral nerves shift toward inflammatory phenotypes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy www.jci.org/articles/vie...
A big game changer in the CRMP2 game bringing together old and new litterature and further validating CRMP2 phosphorylation at S522 as a excellent therapeutic target for alleviating pain.
Jiang et al. find that collapsin response mediator protein 2 phosphorylation in CD4+ T cells affects spinal infiltration and pain modulation, hinting at novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis–related chronic pain. Learn more in #PAIN bit.ly/3HnqDO4
August 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A big game changer in the CRMP2 game bringing together old and new litterature and further validating CRMP2 phosphorylation at S522 as a excellent therapeutic target for alleviating pain.