Acid sensors in the gut: a taste of things to come

Physiological pain is mediated by the transduction of nociceptive stimuli v ia the peripheral terminals of nociceptors to the spinal dorsal horn neuron es, before projection to the cerebral cortex. Pathological states of inflam mation and nerve injury alter the transduction properties of peripheral noc iceptors and spinal dorsal horn neurones via post-translational changes ind uced within receptors/ion channels by activation of intracellular transduct ion cascades. This leads to a sensitized system with altered stimulus respo nse characteristics, which manifests as a clinical hypersensitivity state. With the recent advances in molecular biology it has become possible to ide ntify the various receptors and ion channels involved in nociceptive transd uction in health and disease. This new insight is likely to lead to a more targeted approach towards treating both visceral and somatic pain. Eur J Ga stroenterol Hepatol 13:885-888 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.