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Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
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Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram

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Toxins in pain

Fernanda C Cardoso1, Mahadhi Hasan, Tianjiao Zhao

  • 1Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|February 14, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Natural toxins modulate pain pathways by targeting ion channels and receptors, offering potential for novel non-opioid pain relief. Understanding these interactions enhances our knowledge of pain mechanisms and treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Pain is a critical protective sensory signal indicating tissue damage.
  • Natural toxins have evolved to manipulate pain pathways for defense or predation.
  • Toxins offer valuable tools for studying pain physiology and pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how natural toxins modulate pain pathways.
  • To highlight the potential of toxins as pharmacological tools and drug leads for pain management.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which toxins affect ion channels and receptors involved in pain signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on natural toxins and pain pathways.
  • Analysis of toxin interactions with ion channels (e.g., NaV, CaV, KV) and receptors (e.g., TRP, ASIC, P2X, NMDA, GPCRs).
  • Examination of recent findings on toxins targeting specific channels like Nav1.7 and Nav1.1.

Main Results:

  • Toxins selectively modulate ion channels and receptors in pain pathways, causing effects like numbness, paralysis, or intense pain.
  • Recently identified toxins targeting Nav1.7 and Nav1.1 have elucidated their roles in pain signaling.
  • Toxins provide a rich source for developing novel non-opioid analgesics.

Conclusions:

  • Natural toxins are potent modulators of pain signaling pathways.
  • Understanding toxin mechanisms can lead to new therapeutic strategies for chronic pain.
  • Toxins represent promising leads for non-addictive pain relief.

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