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Review
. 2018 Apr;592(7):1045-1062.
doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.12884. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neuropathic and inflammatory pain

Arik J Hone  1 , J Michael McIntosh  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neuropathic and inflammatory pain

Arik J Hone et al. FEBS Lett. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are actively being investigated as therapeutic targets for the treatment of pain and inflammation, but despite more than 30 years of research, there are currently no FDA-approved analgesics that are specific for these receptors. Much of the initial research effort focused on the α4β2 nAChR subtype, but more recently, additional subtypes have been identified as promising new leads and include α6β4, α7, and α9-containing nAChRs. This Review will focus on the distribution of these nAChRs in the cell types involved in neuropathic pain and inflammation and the activity of currently available nicotinic ligands.

Keywords: cancer pain; inflammatory pain; neuropathic pain; nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; α-conotoxin RgIA.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Conotoxins including some of those referenced in this paper and quaternary ammonium salts have been patented by the University of Utah, Hainan University, or the University of Kentucky with JMM listed as an inventor.

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