Voltage-gated calcium channels are important contributors to the transmission and processing of nociceptive information in the primary afferent pain pathway. Several types of calcium channels and their ancillary subunits are dysregulated in response to nerve injury or inflammation. Notably, calcium channels have emerged as prominent targets for analgesics. This article discusses the roles of specific types of voltage-gated calcium channels in the afferent pain pathway and their utility as pharmacological targets for therapeutic intervention in chronic pain. Several calcium channel subtypes are dysregulated during chronic pain conditions, giving rise to increased neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. N-type calcium channels, Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels, and the Cavα2δ subunit are validated targets for the development and clinical use of small organic analgesics, with R-type channels showing potential as possible targets based on preclinical studies.
Regulation of T-Type Calcium Channels in the Peripheral Pain Pathway