Publications

Complete publication lists can be found at the following links;

Prof David I. Hughes

Prof Andrew J. Todd

Dr Andrew Bell

Dr Junichi Hachisuka

Dr Greg A. Weir

Selected Recent publications

2026

Ledesma Fernandez, P., Butler, B., Theis, H., Paulusch, S., De Domenico, E., Weir, G.A. and Bell, A.M.  (2026) Deep FLASH-seq profiling of purified canine sensory neurons uncovers species-specific signatures relevant to pain and itch. Pain, 167(10), pp. 2391-2407. (doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000004102)

Polgár, E., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Dickie, A.C., Abu Hajer, Mai., Cooper, A.H., Weir, G.A.and Todd, A.J. (2026) Chemogenetic inhibition of Grpr- and/or Npff- expressing spinal neurons in mice suppresses chloroquine-evoked itch, but not signs of mechanical allodynia in a neuropathic pain model. PAIN, 167(9), e391-e401. (doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000004024)

Chrysostomidou, P. et al. (2026) Macrophages amplify spontaneous activity of damaged sensory neurons in a human co-culture model of neuropathic pain. Brain, (doi: 10.1093/brain/awag088)

Polgár, E., Dickie, A.C., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Watanabe, M., Bell, A.M. and Todd, A.J. (2026) Characterisation of neurotensin-expressing interneurons in the mouse spinal dorsal horn. Molecular Pain, 22, (doi: 10.1177/17448069261468203)

2025

Razlan, A. N. et al. (2025) Characterisation of cold-selective lamina I spinal projection neurons in the mouse. eLife, 14, RP109502. (doi: 10.7554/eLife.109502)

Ma, W., Dickie, A.C., Polgár, E., Yadav, M., Quillet, R., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Bell, A.M. and Todd, A.J. (2025) Expression of Tacr1 and Gpr83 by spinal projection neurons. Molecular Pain, 21, p. 17448069251342409. (doi: 10.1177/17448069251342409)

Ma, W., Polgár, E., Dickie, A.C., Hajer, M., Quillet, R., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Yadav, M., Hachisuka, J., Todd, A.J. and Bell, A.M. (2025) Anatomical characterisation of somatostatin-expressing neurons belonging to the anterolateral system. Scientific Reports, 15, 9549. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93816-6)

2024

Bell, A. M. et al. (2024) Deep sequencing of Phox2a nuclei reveals five classes of anterolateral system neurons. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(23), e231421312. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.2314213121)

Browne, T.J., Smith, K.M., Gradwell, M.A., Dayas, C.V., Callister, R.J., Hughes, D.I. and Graham, B.A. (2024) Lateral lamina V projection neuron axon collaterals connect sensory processing across the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Scientific Reports, 14, 26354. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-73620-4)

Cooper, A.H., Barry, A.M., Chrysostomidou, P., Lolignier, R., Wang, J., Redondo Canales, M., Titterton, H.F., Bennett, D.L. and Weir, G.A. (2024) Peripheral nerve injury results in a biased loss of sensory neuron sub-populations. Pain, 165(12), pp. 2863-2876. (doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003321)

2023

Boyle, K. A. et al. (2023) Neuropeptide Y-expressing dorsal horn inhibitory interneurons gate spinal pain and itch signalling. eLife, 12, RP86633. (doi: 10.7554/eLife.86633)

Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Kókai, É., Polgár, E., Quillet, R., Titterton, H.F., Weir, G.A., Watanabe, M. and Todd, A.J. (2023) Antibodies against the gastrin-releasing peptide precursor pro-gastrin-releasing peptide reveal its expression in the mouse spinal dorsal horn. Neuroscience, 510, pp. 60-71. (doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.12.023)

Quillet, R., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Polgár, E., Dickie, A.C., Boyle, K.A., Watanabe, M. and Todd, A.J. (2023) Synaptic circuits involving gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-expressing neurons in the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16, 1294994. (doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1294994)

Davis, O. C. et al. (2023) Calretinin-expressing islet cells are a source of pre- and post-synaptic inhibition of non-peptidergic nociceptor input to the mouse spinal cord. Scientific Reports, 13, 11561. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38605-9)

Quillet, R., Dickie, A.C., Polgár, E., Gutierrez-Mecinas, M., Bell, A.M., Goffin, L., Watanabe, M. and Todd, A.J. (2023) Characterisation of NPFF-expressing neurons in the superficial dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Scientific Reports, 13, 5891. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-32720-3)

Polgár, E. et al. (2023) Grpr expression defines a population of superficial dorsal horn vertical cells that have a role in both itch and pain. Pain, 164(1), pp. 149-170. (doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002677)