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Voltage-gated ion channels are key regulators of noxious signal transmission at the level of the periphery. In this Review, Zamponi and Waxman discuss recent advances in our understanding of the role of some of these channels in pain processing in primary afferent neurons, their dysfunction in congenital and acquired disease states and emerging possibilities for new analgesics.
In this Review, Piomelli and Sasso survey the functions of endogenous lipid mediators in the peripheral gating of nociceptive signals. They focus on the mechanisms and pathways associated with analgesic lipids, such as endocannabinoids, lipid amides, lipoxins and resolvins, and discuss their role in the interaction between nociceptive and immune systems in the context of pain.
What makes certain individuals more susceptible to developing chronic pain? In this article, Denk, McMahon and Tracey review our current knowledge of the genetic, epigenetic and other environmental factors that contribute to pain vulnerability or resilience and delineate the brain networks that are involved in chronic pain states.
Pain and itch are very distinct sensations that rely on both overlapping and orthogonal mechanisms in primary sensory afferents and in the spinal cord. In this article, Bautista, Wilson and Hoon review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular, cellular and circuit basis of acute and chronic itch in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
