title: Ephrins and pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ephrin receptor family is the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which comprises 14 members that are divided into A and B subclasses. The ephrin receptor (Eph-receptor) ligands are named ephrins. Ephrins/Eph receptors interact with a variety of membrane receptors that respond to chemokines, neurotransmitters or growth factors. A growing body of evidence indicates that ephrins/Eph receptors are involved in the modulation of different types of pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review summarizing the most recent data in terms of ephrins and their ligands and their association with different types of pain. Moreover, the latest knowledge regarding the involvement of ephrins/Eph receptors in pain modulation as well as its possible therapeutic perspectives are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ephrins/Eph receptors system seems to be an emerging target for pain drug discovery, because it is involved in the pathophysiology of many types of pain. The modulation of different types of pain by selective agonists or antagonists may hold tremendous therapeutic potential in various pain conditions mentioned in this review. However, the current limited but promising data, merit consideration and further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Laiko University Hospital, Medical School, First Department of Anesthesiology, 75, Mikras Asias street, GR11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasileiou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adamakis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theocharis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D036342:Ephrins