Optogenetics and photopharmacology in pain research and therapeutics

Abstract

<jats:p>Pain afflicts billions of people worldwide, who suffer especially from long-term chronic pain. This gruelling condition affects the nervous system at all levels: from the brain to the spinal cord, the Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) and the peripheral fibres innervating the skin. The nature of the different molecular and cellular components of the somatosensory modalities, as well as the complexity of the peripheral and central circuitry are yet poorly understood. Light-based techniques such as optogenetics, in concert with the recent advances in single-cell genetic profiling, can help to elucidate the role of diverse neuronal sub-populations in the encoding of different sensory and painful stimuli by switching these neurons on and off via optically active proteins, namely opsins. Recently, photopharmacology has emerged from the efforts made to advance optogenetics. The introduction of azo-benzene-based light-sensitive molecular switches has been applied to a wide variety of molecular targets, from ion channels and receptors to transporters, enzymes and many more, some of which are paramount for pain research and therapy.&#x0D; In this Review, we summarise the recent advances in the fields of optogenetics and photopharmacology and we discuss the use of light-based techniques for the study of acute and chronic pain physiology, as well as their potential for future therapeutic use to improve pain treatment.</jats:p>

The Use of Technology in the Management of Orthodontic Treatment-Related Pain

“…Optogenetics is another futuristic method using which pain modulation can be carried out using brainstimulation. is can enable action on specific groups of cells to help alleviate pain by means of neuromodulator and neuropeptide pathways [54].…”

Optical Assessment of Nociceptive TRP Channel Function at the Peripheral Nerve Terminal

“…Here, we provide a brief overview of these strategies. For a further detailed discussion, the reader is referred to other recent reviews [ 33 , 39 ].…”

“…Diverse opto-pharmacological agents have been developed on the basis of photo-modulating TRP channel activity in order to photo-control nociception, [ 33 , 39 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. In this manner, TRPV1 activity was first photo-activated by caged capsaicin compounds, which activate TRPV1 under irradiation with light [ 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ] ( Figure 2 a), but in spite of having a substantial increase in the level of light-controlled TRPV1 activity, the caged capsaicin effect is not reversible, thus limiting the possibility to photo-control TRPV1 activity by repeated activation/deactivation cycles.…”

“…Thus, assessing ion channel activity by experimental approaches should be performed with a high temporal resolution, which necessitates new approaches for selective and fast ways of modulating channel activity in the live animal. In this regard, the development of optogenetics, nanoparticle-based methods, and opto-pharmacological tools undoubtedly provides new routes for studying the contribution of ion channels to cell physiology in vivo and establishing new means to precisely control neuronal activity [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Moreover, these methods have multiple uses in experimental pain neurobiology, turning out advantageous over traditional methods in clinical applications.…”

Effects of foot massage on relieving pain, anxiety and improving quality of life of patients undergone a cervical spine surgery

“…It is also reported that as high as 47.3% of patients with dysphagia exhibit anxiety and depression [ 5 ]. Together, pain and anxiety worsen surgical outcomes and deteriorate quality of life in patients [ 6 ]. However, post-operative mental and psychological impairment caused by ACDF has not received enough attention, and strategies for management of pain and anxiety after ACDF surgery are in need for the benefit of these patients.…”