Tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a Therapeutic Agent for Pain

Marine Drugs

Francisco Rafael Nieto¹  Enrique José Cobos²  Miguel Ángel Tejada²  Cristina Sánchez-Fernández²  Rafael González-Cano² 

[1] Department of Pharmacology and Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada (Avenida de Madrid 11, 18012 Granada, Spain) and Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain;

关键词: tetrodotoxin;    TTX;    TTX-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels;    pain;    neuropathic pain;   

DOI  :  10.3390/md10020281

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). VGSCs play a critical role in neuronal function under both physiological and pathological conditions. TTX has been extensively used to functionally characterize VGSCs, which can be classified as TTX-sensitive or TTX-resistant channels according to their sensitivity to this toxin. Alterations in the expression and/or function of some specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs have been implicated in a number of chronic pain conditions. The administration of TTX at doses below those that interfere with the generation and conduction of action potentials in normal (non-injured) nerves has been used in humans and experimental animals under different pain conditions. These data indicate a role for TTX as a potential therapeutic agent for pain. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting a potential analgesic role for TTX. In addition, the contribution of specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs to pain is reviewed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.