Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as a target for the treatment of neuropathic pain

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists have been demonstrated to exhibit anti nociceptive, anti hyperalgesic, and antiallodynic effects across a range of preclinical models of pain. Yet, to date, no drugs have been successfully developed and approved for the treatment of pain from this pharmacological class. In this overview, the mechanism and site of action of nAChR agonists in models of neuropathic pain, as well as the current status and future prospects for the development of drugs from this class for the treatment of neuropathic pain, will be discussed.