Alpha9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the treatment of pain

作者：McIntosh J Michael^*; Absalom Nathan; Chebib Mary; Belen Elgoyhen Ana; Vincler Michelle

来源：Biochemical Pharmacology, 2009, 78(7): 693-702.

DOI：10.1016/j.bcp.2009.05.020

• alpha-Conotoxin Vc1.1
• alpha-Contoxin RgIA
• Pain
• Alpha9 nicotinic
• GABA-B

Chronic pain is a vexing worldwide problem that causes substantial disability and consumes significant medical resources. Although there are numerous analgesic medications, these work through a small set of molecular mechanisms. Even when these medications are used in combination, substantial amounts of pain often remain. It is therefore highly desirable to develop treatments that work through distinct mechanisms of action. While agonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been intensively studied, new data suggest a role for selective antagonists of nAChRs. alpha-Conotoxins are small peptides used offensively by carnivorous marine snails known as Conus. A subset of these peptides known as alpha-conotoxins RgIA and Vc1.1 produces both acute and long lasting analgesia. In addition, these peptides appear to accelerate the recovery of function after nerve injury, possibly through immune mediated mechanisms. Pharmacological analysis indicates that RgIA and Vc1.1 are selective antagonists of alpha 9 alpha 10 nAChRs. A recent study also reported that these alpha 9 alpha 10 antagonists are also potent GABA-B agonists. In the current study, we were unable to detect RgIA or Vc1.1 binding to or action on cloned GABA-B receptors expressed in HEK cells or Xenopus oocytes. We review the background, findings and implications of use of compounds that act on alpha 9* nAChRs.

• 出版日期2009-10-1