title: ERK1/2: Function, signaling and implication in pain and pain-related anxio-depressive disorders.
abstract: Despite the increasing knowledge regarding pain modulation, the understanding of the mechanisms behind a complex and pathologic chronic pain condition is still insufficient. These knowledge gaps might result in ineffective therapeutic approaches to relieve painful sensations. As a result, severe untreated chronic pain frequently triggers the onset of new disorders such as depression and/or anxiety, and therefore, both the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain become seriously compromised, prompting a self-perpetuating cycle of symptomatology. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are molecules strongly implicated in the somatic component of pain at the spinal cord level and have been emerging as mediators of the emotional-affective component as well. Although these molecules might represent good biomarkers, their use as pharmacological targets is still open to discussion as paradoxical information has been obtained. Here we review the current scientific literature regarding ERK1/2 signaling in the modulation of pain, depression and anxiety, including the emotional-affective spheres of the pain experience.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsycopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience (Pharmacology and Psychiatry), University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Centro de Investigação Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (CIM-FMUP), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Grupo de Morfofisiologia do Sistema Nervoso, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Psychobiology Area, Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, 11510 Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berrocoso
authors.affiliation: Neuropsycopharmacology and Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience (Pharmacology and Psychiatry), University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mico
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Centro de Investigação Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (CIM-FMUP), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Grupo de Morfofisiologia do Sistema Nervoso, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: fanineto@med.up.pt.
authors.forename: Fani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
keywords: Anxiety; Chronic pain; Depression; Paragigantocellularis–locus coeruleus–prefrontal cortex pathway; pERK1/2