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Nature Medicine 12, 506 - 507 (2006)
doi:10.1038/nm0506-506
Channeling pain
Ardem Patapoutian1 & Lindsey Macpherson1
- The authors are at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, and Ardem Patapoutian is also at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, USA. e-mail: ardem@scripps.edu
Abstract
In vitro experiments have suggested that the TRPA1 ion channel senses various noxious stimuli. Many of these findings are now borne out in mice, in line with the notion that TRPA1 inhbitors might be useful in treating pain.
Two independent analyses1, 2 show that the ion channel TRPA1 is required in mice for sensing endogenous pain-causing substances, pungent natural compounds, noxious cold and mechanical stimuli, and environmental irritants. These data suggest that TRPA1 is a polymodal sensor of noxious stimuli and might be a target for new pain treatments.
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