Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
10:37
Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
Published on: April 11, 2018
Axonal protein synthesis: a potential target for pain relief?
Ilona Obara1, Sandrine M Géranton, Stephen P Hunt
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. i.obara@ucl.ac.uk
Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|October 29, 2011
Summary
Axonal protein synthesis regulates pain by controlling mRNA translation in primary afferents via mTOR and ERK pathways. This finding offers new therapeutic targets for chronic pain conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Axonal protein synthesis plays a role in regulating nociceptive mechanisms.
- Recent research highlights local mRNA translation in adult primary afferents.
- This process is controlled by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of axonal protein synthesis in nociception.
- To explore the involvement of mTOR and ERK signaling in regulating nociceptive mechanisms.
- To understand the implications for chronic pain conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized studies investigating the effects of mTOR and ERK pathway inhibitors.
- Examined various pain models to assess pathway activity.
- Focused on adult primary afferents and nociceptors.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests local mRNA translation occurs in adult primary afferents.
- mTOR and ERK signaling pathways regulate this translation.
- These pathways may act independently based on sensory afferent type.
Conclusions:
- Nociception is regulated by mRNA translation within nociceptors.
- This provides crucial insights into nociceptive plasticity.
- Findings have significant implications for developing novel therapeutic interventions for chronic pain.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:26Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
01:29Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase, which converts...
01:29Spasmolytic Agents: Chemical Classification
Spasmolytic agents are drugs used to alleviate muscle spasms and spasticity. They can be categorized into different chemical groups based on their mechanisms of action. Centrally acting spasmolytics primarily affect the spinal cord, while others directly target skeletal muscle cells.
A major class of centrally acting spasmolytics is the α2-agonist, such as tizanidine. These drugs bind to α2-adrenoceptors, inhibiting the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. They also promote...
A major class of centrally acting spasmolytics is the α2-agonist, such as tizanidine. These drugs bind to α2-adrenoceptors, inhibiting the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. They also promote...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...