NaV1.8 as a drug target for pain

摘要: Pain is a complex phenomenon which involves central as well peripheral neuronal mechanisms. Increased sensitivity and excitability of nociceptive neurons continues to be regarded an important contributory event the onset and/or maintenance pain state. As such, molecules that determine nociceptor signalling are prime targets for development analgesic drugs. NaV1.8 one these since (1) its expression restricted nociceptors indicating specific drugs would have favourable side effect profile, (2) it has function in “normal” modulated various ways states suggesting may play role pathophysiology pain, (3) several interference methods suggest contributes pathology although each limitations their interpretability. Technically, now feasible drug target with cell lines being developed allow high-throughput screening physiological context technology available measure sodium channel activity functional assays. However, ultimately only availability block specifically will us assess merits this target.