Purinergic Mechanisms and Pain

There is a brief introductory summary of purinergic signaling involving ATP storage, release, and ectoenzymatic breakdown, and the current classification of receptor subtypes for purines and pyrimidines. The review then describes purinergic mechanosensory transduction involved in visceral, cutaneous, and musculoskeletal nociception and on the roles played by receptor subtypes in neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Multiple purinoceptor subtypes are involved in pain pathways both as an initiator and modulator. Activation of homomeric P2X3 receptors contributes to acute nociception and activation of heteromeric P2X2/3 receptors appears to modulate longer-lasting nociceptive sensitivity associated with nerve injury or chronic inflammation. In neuropathic pain activation of P2X4, P2X7, and P2Y12 receptors on microglia may serve to maintain nociceptive sensitivity through complex neural–glial cell interactions and antagonists to these receptors reduce neuropathic pain. Potential therapeutic approaches involving purinergic mechanisms will be discussed.