AUTHOR=Liu Qing , He Hongwen , Mai Lijia , Yang Shengyan , Fan Wenguo , Huang Fang 

TITLE=Peripherally Acting Opioids in Orofacial Pain

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.665445

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2021.665445

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p>The activation of opioid receptors by exogenous or endogenous opioids can produce significant analgesic effects in peripheral tissues. Numerous researchers have demonstrated the expression of peripheral opioid receptors (PORs) and endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs) in the orofacial region. Growing evidence has shown the involvement of PORs and immune cell-derived EOPs in the modulation of orofacial pain. In this review, we discuss the role of PORs and EOPs in orofacial pain and the possible cellular mechanisms involved. Furthermore, the potential development of therapeutic strategies for orofacial pain is also summarized.</p>