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Review
. 2016;8(2):165-77.
doi: 10.4155/fmc.15.164. Epub 2016 Jan 29.

Dynorphin A analogs for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain

Sara M Hall  1 , Yeon Sun Lee  1 , Victor J Hruby  1
Affiliations
Review

Dynorphin A analogs for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain

Sara M Hall et al. Future Med Chem. 2016.

Abstract

Chronic pain is one of the most ubiquitous diseases in the world, but treatment is difficult with conventional methods, due to undesirable side effects of treatments and unknown mechanisms of pathological pain states. The endogenous peptide, dynorphin A has long been established as a target for the treatment of pain. Interestingly, this unique peptide has both inhibitory (opioid in nature) and excitatory activities (nonopioid) in the CNS. Both of these effects have been found to play a role in pain and much work has been done to develop therapeutics to enhance the inhibitory effects. Here we will review the dynorphin A compounds that have been designed for the modulation of pain and will discuss where the field stands today.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure This work has been supported by U.S. Public Health Services, NIH, and NIDA P01DA006284 and R01DA013449. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.. Estimates of the number of people suffering from the most common diseases in the USA and estimates of funding from the NIH.
Data taken from [2], American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
<b>Figure 2.</b>
Figure 2.. Cleavage of prodynorphin into the active peptides Dyn A, Dyn B and Leu-enkephalin.
<b>Figure 3.</b>
Figure 3.. Dynorphin A in the spinal cord during nerve injury or chronic pain state.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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