Translocator Protein 18kDa (TSPO) as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Chronic Pain

Neural Plasticity, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8057854 · Published: August 29, 2022

Simple Explanation

Chronic pain significantly impacts the quality of life and places economic burdens on society. Current treatments are insufficient or have serious side effects, highlighting the need for novel analgesics. TSPO, a protein found in the outer mitochondrial membrane, has been linked to various physiological functions, including immunomodulation. Recent studies suggest that TSPO and its ligands are effective in neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain. This review examines current evidence for TSPO's role in chronic pain development, including neuropathic, cancer, and inflammatory pain, suggesting it may be an alternative therapeutic strategy.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
TSPO is upregulated with microglial activation during neuroinflammation, serving as a marker and predictor of chronic pain.
2
TSPO plays a protective role in neuroinflammation, potentially inhibiting chronic pain by mediating neurosteroid synthesis.
3
TSPO agonists can inhibit neuroinflammation induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines in a SNL model against chronic neuropathic pain.

Research Summary

This review explores the relationship between TSPO and chronic pain, highlighting its vital role in alleviating the initiation and maintenance of various types of chronic pain. TSPO acts as a negative regulator of inflammation by decreasing pro-inflammation factors like IL-1β, IL-6, and CXCL1 upon overexpression or activation. Preclinical studies of TSPO provide novel insight that may facilitate drug development to advance pain therapies, warranting further clinical trials to explore its effects on pain alleviation.

Practical Implications

Drug Development

TSPO represents a novel target for developing new analgesics with fewer side effects than current options like opioids.

Diagnostic Tool

TSPO can be used as a biomarker for identifying neuroinflammation and predicting the development of chronic pain conditions.

Therapeutic Strategy

TSPO-based therapies may offer an alternative approach to managing chronic pain associated with nerve injury, spinal cord injury, cancer, and inflammatory responses.

Study Limitations

1
The clinical effects of TSPO as an agent for alleviating chronic pain have not yet been explored.
2
Further clinical trials are needed to explore the effects of TSPO treatment for pain alleviation.
3
Mechanisms of TSPO’s effective role in nerve diseases has been validated through clinical trials [76]

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