Mechanisms and Modulation of Pain: From Ion Channels to Translational Therapeutics
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 474
Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pain is currently defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with or resembling that associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Nociceptive pain is initiated by activation of specialized nerve receptors located in peripheral tissues that detect harmful stimuli; these then generate electrical signals that are transmitted through the nervous system. Pain is a complex condition resulting from the dynamic interplay between the neuronal, immune, and vascular systems. Neuronal plasticity refers to the adaptive changes that occur in the nociceptive pathways, leading to peripheral and central sensitization. This sensitization can result in amplification of pain signals, lowered pain thresholds, and exaggerated perception of normally non-painful stimuli. Numerous cytokines, chemokines, G-protein-coupled receptors, and ion channels are involved in these processes. Specifically, the activation of ion channels in response to specific environmental stimuli allows for the conversion of variable mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli into voltage changes in neurons. The various ion channels present in peripheral nerves and dorsal root ganglia are differentially expressed, distributed, phosphorylated, and activated under states of pain.
Currently, opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants are the mainstays of pain management strategies; nonetheless, management of pain remains challenging due to its complex pathophysiology. In the case of opioids, the risk of physical dependence and tolerance issues is significant. There is great interest in developing more effective and secure therapies that focus on addressing the fundamental causes of persistent pain; novel analgesics targeting various receptors and ion channels are also being investigated.
This Special Issue aims to collect original research articles, review articles, and clinical studies on topics relevant to the ongoing efforts to develop improved therapeutic approaches for pain applications. We are particularly interested in research focused on novel therapeutic targets, efficacy studies on pre-clinical models, and the challenges in translating pain therapies into clinical applications.
Dr. Álvaro Yogi
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- pain
- mechanisms
- signaling pathways
- ion channels, therapeutic targets
- neuropathic pain
- inflammatory pain
- pre-clinical models
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