AUTHOR=Rivera-Arconada Ivan , Roza Carolina , Lopez-Garcia Jose A. TITLE=Enhancing M currents: a way out for neuropathic pain? JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience VOLUME=2 YEAR=2009 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/neuro.02.010.2009 DOI=10.3389/neuro.02.010.2009 ISSN=1662-5099 ABSTRACT=

Almost three decades ago, the M current was identified and characterized in frog sympathetic neurons (Brown and Adams, 1980). The years following this discovery have seen a huge progress in the understanding of the function and the pharmacology of this current as well as on the structure of the underlying ion channels. Therapies for a number of syndromes involving abnormal levels of excitability in neurons are benefiting from research on M currents. At present, the potential of M current openers as analgesics for neuropathic pain is under discussion. Here we offer a critical view of existing data on the involvement of M currents in pain processing. We believe that enhancement of M currents at the site of injury may become a powerful strategy to alleviate pain in some peripheral neuropathies.