MULTIPLE ROLES OF ATP AND ADENOSINE IN SOMATOSENSORY PROCESSING - THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS

A number of lines of evidence support roles for adenosine and adenosin e 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in the transmission and modulation of somatose nsory information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Adenosine and ATP have also been demonstrated to have nociceptive (pain-related) an d antinociceptive actions in the periphery. Thus, adenosine and ATP ha ve multiple functions in somatosensory processing, which are dependent upon the site and on the relative activation of P1 and P2 purinocepto r subtypes on neurons and non-neuronal cells. The multiple roles provi de a rich number of potential therapeutic targets for producing analge sia in a number of clinical pain states. However, because of the multi ple and potentially contrasting pro- and anti-nociceptive roles of ade nosine and ATP, pharmacological targeting of specific sites and purino ceptor subtypes will be necessary to achieve maximum effectiveness whi le minimizing side effects. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.