title: [Toll-like receptor 4: the potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain].
abstract: Activation of microglia plays a vital role in the initiation and maintenance of specific neuropathic pain states. By activating microglia in central nervous system, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) can promote the release of proinflammatory cytokines and neuroactive compounds, participate in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and trigger the opiate side effects. Therefore, TLR4 may be a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain. Inhibition of TLR4 has shown some biological effects in neuropathic pain models and ibudilast (the TLR4 pathway-inhibiting agent) has been approved for for phase 2 clinical trials. This article briefly reviews the structure, function, and mechanism of TLR4 as well as the development of TLR4-targeted drugs.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ze-jun
authors: ZJ
authors: Jia
authors: Fei-xiang
authors: FX
authors: Wu
authors: Qing-hai
authors: QH
authors: Huang
authors: Jian-min
authors: JM
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4