Pronociceptive actions of dynorphin via bradykinin receptors.
The endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin A is distinct from other endogenous opioid peptides in having significant neuronal excitatory and neurotoxic effects that are not mediated by opioid receptors. Some of these non-opioid actions of dynorphin contribute to the development of abnormal pain resulting from a number of pathological conditions. Identifying the mechanisms and the sites of action of dynorphin is essential for understanding the pathophysiology of dynorphin and for exploring novel therapeutic targets for pain. This review will discuss the mechanisms that have been proposed and the recent finding that spinal dynorphin may be an endogenous ligand of bradykinin receptors under pathological conditions to promote pain.
Lai
Josephine
J
Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. lai@email.arizona.edu <lai@email.arizona.edu>
Luo
Miaw-chyi
MC
Chen
Qingmin
Q
Porreca
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism
D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin; D004399:Dynorphins