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Hot target on nociceptors: perspectives, caveats and unique features

  1. J Szolcsányi*

Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009

DOI: 10.1038/bjp.2008.374

Issue

British Journal of Pharmacology

British Journal of Pharmacology

Volume 155, Issue 8, pages 1142–1144, December 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Szolcsányi, J. (2008), Hot target on nociceptors: perspectives, caveats and unique features. British Journal of Pharmacology, 155: 1142–1144. doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.374

Author Information

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary

*Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Szigeti u. 12., Hungary. E-mail: janos.szolcsanyi@aok.pte.hu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 JAN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009
  3. (Received September 9, 2008, Accepted September 20, 2008)

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Keywords:

  • capsaicin;
  • sensory-efferent function;
  • C-polymodal nociceptor;
  • resiniferatoxin;
  • somatostatin;
  • lipid raft;
  • TRPV1 cation channel;
  • thermosensor;
  • nocisensor;
  • sensocrine

Identification of C-polymodal nociceptors and the selective action of capsaicin on them by acting on a putative receptor, which has been cloned 11 years ago, initiated a burst of interest in pharmacology of nociceptors. Capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) being a noxious heat-gated cation channel gated also by several exogenous and endogenous substances serves as a nocisensor to generate graded receptor potentials in these sense organs. Impressive data on pathways involved in sensitization/desensitization of the channel revealed in isolated cells should also validate at the level of nerve endings and lipid raft around TRPV1 could modify the channel gating. Capsaicin-sensitive nociceptors subserve dual sensory-efferent functions: tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide released from them elicit local tissue responses as neurogenic inflammation and release of somatostatin evokes systemic anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic effects. TRPV1 gene-deleted mice show subtle changes in physiological regulations, therefore TRPV1 is a promising but challenging target for drug research.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 1142–1144; doi:fn1; published online 10 November 2008

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