Molecular mechanisms of chronic pain and its therapeutic strategy
Takazawa, T.; Saito, S.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 62(3): 275-282
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 23544328 Document Number: 669571
The contribution of numerous molecules for developing and maintaining the chronic pain state in patients has been gradually shown after the decade of pain control and research. However, many patients still have chronic pain which is difficult to treat even after the appearance of new analgesics. Therefore, a number of studies are still ongoing to find promising novel analgesics. We review several molecules being examined in ongoing studies including ionotropic and G-protein coupled receptors, which are mainly distributed in primary sensory afferents and/or spinal cord dorsal horn neurons.