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Purinergic P2X receptors and diabetic neuropathic pain

Shi Lei, Zhang Hong-Hong, HU Ji, Jiang Xing-Hong, XU GUANG-YIN

Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou 215007, China； Key Laboratory of Pain Basic Research &； Clinic Therapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurobiology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China； Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou 310013, China

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes, is characterized by allodynia, hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain. Chinese epidemiological studies have shown that at least 25% diabetic patients suffered from painful DPN, which compromises patients’ daily functioning and becomes a major health care problem. Although the pathogenesis of painful DPN is not fully understood and current treatment options are very limited, research in the field has advanced our understanding on the mechanism of painful DPN in the past Decade of Pain Research and Control. This review will mainly focus on evaluation of current diabetic animal models, possible molecular pathways and available therapies, with an emphasis on roles of purinergic receptor and its signaling transduction pathways. Common therapies address one or two DPN symptoms, while others offer wider symptom control, presumably by targeting pathophysiological mechanisms of DPN. Purinergic receptor signaling transduction pathways might become potential targets for treatment for painful DPN.

Key words: neuropathic pain; diabetes; P2X receptors; treatment

Received: 2012-09-08　　Accepted: 2012-09-18

Corresponding author: 徐广银　　E-mail: guangyinxu@suda.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

Shi Lei, Zhang Hong-Hong, HU Ji, Jiang Xing-Hong, XU GUANG-YIN. Purinergic P2X receptors and diabetic neuropathic pain. Acta Physiol Sin 2012; 64 (5): 531-542 (in Chinese with English abstract).