Nociception is an important physiological process that detects harmful signals and results in pain perception. In this review, we discuss important experimental evidence involving some TRP ion channels as molecular se...Nociception is an important physiological process that detects harmful signals and results in pain perception. In this review, we discuss important experimental evidence involving some TRP ion channels as molecular sensors of chemical, thermal, and mechanical noxious stimuli to evoke the pain and itch sensations. Among them are the TRPA1 channel, members of the vanilloid subfamily (TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4), and finally members of the melastatin group (TRPM2, TRPM3, and TRPMS). Given that pain and itch are pro-survival, evolutionarily-honed protective mechanisms, care has to be exercised when developing inhibitory/modulatory com- pounds targeting specific pain/itch-TRPs so that physio- logical protective mechanisms are not disabled to a degree that stimulus-mediated injury can occur. Such events have impeded the development of safe and effective TRPV1- modulating compounds and have diverted substantial resources. A beneficial outcome can be readily accom- plished via simple dosing strategies, and also by incorpo- rating medicinal chemistry design features during compound design and synthesis. Beyond clinical use, where compounds that target more than one channel might have a place and possibly have advantageous features, highly specific and high-potency compounds will be helpful in mechanistic discovery at the structure-function level.展开更多
Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,which affects over 90% of the diabetic patients.Although pain is one of the main symptoms of diabetic neuropathy,its pathophysiological m...Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,which affects over 90% of the diabetic patients.Although pain is one of the main symptoms of diabetic neuropathy,its pathophysiological mechanisms are not yet fully known.It is widely accepted that the toxic effects of hyperglycemia play an important role in the development of this complication,but several other hypotheses have been postulated.The management of diabetic neuropathic pain consists basically in excluding other causes of painful peripheral neuropathy,improving glycemic control as a prophylactic therapy and using medications to alleviate pain.First line drugs for pain relief include anticonvulsants,such as pregabalin and gabapentin and antidepressants,especial y those that act to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline.In addition,there is experimental and clinical evidence that opioids can be helpful in pain control,mainly if associated with first line drugs.Other agents,including for topical application,such as capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches,have also been proposed to be useful as adjuvants in the control of diabetic neuropathic pain,but the clinical evidence is insufficient to support their use.In conclusion,a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying diabetic neuropathic pain will contribute to the search of new therapies,but also to the improvement of the guidelines to optimize pain control with the drugs currently available.展开更多
基金supported by the National Institutes of Health,USA(DE018549,UL1TR001117,P30AR066527,and AR48182 to WL,AR48182-S1 to WL as co-investigatorF33DE024668 and K12DE022793 to YC)+1 种基金the US Department of Defense(W81XWH-13-1-0299 to WL)the Harrington Discovery Institute,Cleveland OH(to WL)
文摘Nociception is an important physiological process that detects harmful signals and results in pain perception. In this review, we discuss important experimental evidence involving some TRP ion channels as molecular sensors of chemical, thermal, and mechanical noxious stimuli to evoke the pain and itch sensations. Among them are the TRPA1 channel, members of the vanilloid subfamily (TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4), and finally members of the melastatin group (TRPM2, TRPM3, and TRPMS). Given that pain and itch are pro-survival, evolutionarily-honed protective mechanisms, care has to be exercised when developing inhibitory/modulatory com- pounds targeting specific pain/itch-TRPs so that physio- logical protective mechanisms are not disabled to a degree that stimulus-mediated injury can occur. Such events have impeded the development of safe and effective TRPV1- modulating compounds and have diverted substantial resources. A beneficial outcome can be readily accom- plished via simple dosing strategies, and also by incorpo- rating medicinal chemistry design features during compound design and synthesis. Beyond clinical use, where compounds that target more than one channel might have a place and possibly have advantageous features, highly specific and high-potency compounds will be helpful in mechanistic discovery at the structure-function level.
文摘Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,which affects over 90% of the diabetic patients.Although pain is one of the main symptoms of diabetic neuropathy,its pathophysiological mechanisms are not yet fully known.It is widely accepted that the toxic effects of hyperglycemia play an important role in the development of this complication,but several other hypotheses have been postulated.The management of diabetic neuropathic pain consists basically in excluding other causes of painful peripheral neuropathy,improving glycemic control as a prophylactic therapy and using medications to alleviate pain.First line drugs for pain relief include anticonvulsants,such as pregabalin and gabapentin and antidepressants,especial y those that act to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline.In addition,there is experimental and clinical evidence that opioids can be helpful in pain control,mainly if associated with first line drugs.Other agents,including for topical application,such as capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches,have also been proposed to be useful as adjuvants in the control of diabetic neuropathic pain,but the clinical evidence is insufficient to support their use.In conclusion,a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying diabetic neuropathic pain will contribute to the search of new therapies,but also to the improvement of the guidelines to optimize pain control with the drugs currently available.