Small molecules targeting the vanilloid receptor complex as drug for inflammatory pain

28 pages, 5 figures.
Inflammatory pain is a condition caused by tissue injury and requires efficient drug treatment. The identification and cloning of the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 represents a significant step in the clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying transduction of noxious chemical and thermal stimuli by peripheral nociceptors. Because of its central implication in hyperalgesia, the TRPV1 receptor has emerged as a key therapeutic target for inflammatory pain management. Modulators of the TRPV1 receptor complex are considered to be useful and selective painkillers. The challenge, however, is to develop receptor-selective drugs that preserve the physiological activity of TRPV1 receptors while correcting those contributing to pathology. Thus, normal proprioceptive and nociceptive responses that represent a safety mechanism to prevent tissue injury must be preserved.
Financial support from grants from MCYT, Fundació La Caixa, Fundació Marató TV3, and FIS.