[Epidemiology and pathophysiology of pain--new targets for pain therapy].
Although effective drugs are available to fight pain numerous people suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain most often occurs in the skeletomuscular system, i.e., in deep somatic tissue. In order to improve pain treatment it is necessary to develop new approaches for therapy. These are expected from the results of basic research on molecular mechanisms of nociception, from insights into the pathophysiological generation of pain and from the better understanding of pain processing in the central nervous system. Therapeutical options are supposed to be found in influencing the peripheral transduction mechanisms for noxious stimuli, in antagonising of peripherally acting algesic mediators and in attenuating synaptic processes in the central nervous nociceptive system. Examples for new targets are TRPV1 receptors, cytokine receptors, neuropeptide receptors, glutamate receptors, sodium- and calcium channels. In addition, the better understanding of neuronal mechanisms of placebo effects may open new pathways.
Schaible
Hans-Georg
HG
Institut für Physiologie 1/Neurophysiologie, Universitätskinikum Jena, Teichgraben 8, 07743 Jena. Hans-Georg.Schaible@mti.uni-jena.de
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface