“…An emerging body of data suggests that paclitaxel also exerts effects on the immune system by stimulating anti-tumor and anti-autoimmunity effects 11,57 . For example, previous reports showed that a higher dose of paclitaxel than used here (cumulative dose 24 mg/kg, 3 × 8mg/kg) also induced a persistent mechanical allodynia that was accompanied by an infiltration of macrophages into the DRG of rats and this was prevented by co-treatment with minocycline during chemotherapy 44,34 , and application of minocycline, an inhibitor of pro-inflammatory cytokine release, prevents mechanical allodynia and IENF loss induced by paclitaxel using the doses of paclitaxel as in this study 7 . Activation of macrophages has been reported to contribute to experimental neuropathic pain states by releasing potent pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), MCP-1, nerve growth factor (NGF), nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids 52 .…”