Role of transient receptor potential and acid-sensing ion channels in peripheral inflammatory pain

• Published in: Anesthesiology (Philadelphia) 2010-03, Vol.112 (3), p.729-741
• Main Authors: White, John P M, Cibelli, Mario, Rei Fidalgo, Antonio, Paule, Cleoper C, Noormohamed, Faruq, Urban, Laszlo, Maze, Mervyn, Nagy, Istvan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid Sensing Ion Channels; Anesthetics, Inhalation - pharmacology; Animals; Humans; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - physiopathology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - drug effects; Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology; Pain - etiology; Pain - physiopathology; Sodium Channels - drug effects; Sodium Channels - physiology; Transient Receptor Potential Channels - drug effects; Transient Receptor Potential Channels - physiology
• ISSN: 0003-3022; 1528-1175
• DOI: 10.1097/aln.0b013e3181ca3179

Pain originating in inflammation is the most common pathologic pain condition encountered by the anesthesiologist whether in the context of surgery, its aftermath, or in the practice of pain medicine. Inflammatory agents, released as components of the body's response to peripheral tissue damage or disease, are now known to be collectively capable of activating transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4, transient receptor potential ankyrin type 1, and acid-sensing ion channels, whereas individual agents may activate only certain of these ion channels. These ionotropic receptors serve many physiologic functions-as, indeed, do many of the inflammagens released in the inflammatory process. Here, we introduce the reader to the role of these ionotropic receptors in mediating peripheral pain in response to inflammation.