Opioid, cheating on its receptors, exacerbates pain.
Opioids are commonly thought of as compounds that alleviate pain. A new study finds that elevated levels of the opioid dynorphin can unexpectedly activate bradykinin receptors, contributing to the maintenance of neuropathic pain.
Altier
Christophe
C
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
Zamponi
Gerald W
GW
D000818:Animals; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin; D004399:Dynorphins