Progress in mechanism and drugs for AMPK deficiency-related neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. Symptoms of neuropathic pain include spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, and sensory abnormalities. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key energy regulator that maintains cellular homeostasis by modulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Recent studies have highlighted its role in synaptic plasticity and glial cell function, suggesting that AMPK signaling pathways contribute to the onset and progression of neurological disorders. Investigations using animal models of neuropathic pain as well as clinical research have illustrated aberrations in AMPK expression and activity at various sites along sensory conduction pathways. Treatment with AMPK agonists has been shown to alleviate pain symptoms, suggesting that dysregulation of AMPK expression/function contributes to the development and persistence of neuropathic pain. Therefore, the development of analgesics targeting AMPK has garnered considerable attention worldwide. This article provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms by which AMPK participates in neuropathic pain, with the aim of guiding the development of related analgesic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]