title: P2X receptors: targets for novel analgesics?
abstract: The ability of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to evoke acute pain has been known for many years, but its role in nociceptive signaling is only now becoming clear. ATP acts via P2X and P2Y receptors, and of particular importance here is the P2X(3) receptor. It is expressed selectively at high levels in nociceptive sensory neurons, where it forms functional receptors on its own and in combination with the P2X(2) receptor. Recent reports using gene knockout methods; antisense oligonucleotide and small, interfering RNA technologies; and a novel, selective P2X(3) antagonist, A-317491, show that P2X(3) receptors are involved in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The mRNA for other P2X subunits is also found in sensory neurons, and there is evidence for functional P2X(1/5) or P2X(2/6) heteromers in some of these. These data support the possibility that P2X receptors, particularly the P2X(3) subtype, could be targeted in the search for new, effective analgesics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. c.kennedy@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate