The Role of ATP Receptors in Pain Signaling.

Since new roles of nucleotides as neurotransmitters were proposed by Geoffrey Burnstock, the roles of ATP and P2 receptors (P2Rs) have been extensively studied in pain signaling. Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that often occurs following peripheral tissue inflammation and nerve injury. Especially neuropathic pain is a significant clinical problem because there are few clinically effective drugs. This review summarizes the findings for the role of ATP signaling through P2X3Rs and P2X2/3Rs in primary afferent neurons and through P2X4Rs, P2X7Rs, and P2Y12R in spinal microglia in chronic pain to discuss the therapeutic potentials with considering active situation of drug development of P2R compounds.