Nociceptors: the sensors of the pain pathway.
Specialized peripheral sensory neurons known as nociceptors alert us to potentially damaging stimuli at the skin by detecting extremes in temperature and pressure and injury-related chemicals, and transducing these stimuli into long-ranging electrical signals that are relayed to higher brain centers. The activation of functionally distinct cutaneous nociceptor populations and the processing of information they convey provide a rich diversity of pain qualities. Current work in this field is providing researchers with a more thorough understanding of nociceptor cell biology at molecular and systems levels and insight that will allow the targeted design of novel pain therapeutics.
Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA. adubin@scripps.edu
Adrienne E
AE
Dubin
Ardem
A
Patapoutian
D000818:Animals; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin
D007473:Ion Channels