Calcium channel functions in pain processing

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) play obligatory physiological roles, including modulation of neuronal functions, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release and gene transcription. Dysregulation and maladaptive changes in VGCC expression and activities may occur in the sensory pathway under various pathological conditions that could contribute to the development of pain. In this review, we summarized the most recent findings on the regulation of VGCC expression and physiological functions in the sensory pathway, and in dysregulation and maladaptive changes of VGCC under pain-inducing conditions. The implications of these changes in understanding the mechanisms of pain transduction and in new drug design are also discussed.