title: P2X3 receptor involvement in pain states.
abstract: The understanding of how pain is processed at each stage in the peripheral and central nervous system is the precondition to develop new therapies for the selective treatment of pain. In the periphery, ATP can be released from various cells as a consequence of tissue injury or visceral distension and may stimulate the local nociceptors. The highly selective distribution of P2X(3) and P2X(2/3) receptors within the nociceptive system has inspired a variety of approaches to elucidate the potential role of ATP as a pain mediator. Depolarization by ATP of neurons in pain-relevant neuronal structures such as trigeminal ganglion, dorsal root ganglion, and spinal cord dorsal horn neurons are well investigated. P2X receptor-mediated afferent activation appears to have been implicated in visceral and neuropathic pain and even in migraine and cancer pain. This article reviews recently published research describing the role that ATP and P2X receptors may play in pain perception, highlighting the importance of the P2X(3) receptor in different states of pain.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Boehm-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Haertelstrasse 16-18, 04107, Leipzig, Germany. Kerstin.Wirkner@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wirkner
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sperlagh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Illes
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D014781:Viscera / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C546407:P2RX3 protein, human; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate