There is a brief summary of the early background literature about purinergic
signalling and its involvement in pain, of ATP storage, release and ectoenzymatic
breakdown and of the current classification of receptor subtypes for purines and
pyrimidines. The review then focuses on purinergic mechanosensory transduction
involved in visceral, cutaneous and musculoskeletal nociception and on the roles played
by P2X3, P2Y2/3, P2X4, P2X7 and P2Y12 receptors in neuropathic and inflammatory
pain. Current developments of compounds for the therapeutic treatment of both visceral
and neuropathic pain are discussed.
Keywords: Adenosine, ATP, bladder, cancer, gut, heart, inflammation, joints,
lung, mechanosensory transduction, migraine, neuropathic, P1, P2X, P2Y,
sensory, skin.
