KCNQ/Kv7 channels as therapeutic target to treat neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain that can be produced by a lesion or disease of somatosensory system is one of the major causes of disability in our society. However, current first-line treatments produce only partial pain relief in the majority of patients. Recent studies suggest that injury-induced hyperexcitability of primary sensory neuron is critical for the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. KCNQ channels are widely expressed in primary sensory neurons and effectively modulate neuronal excitability. Thus, targeting KCNQ channels to treat neuropathic pain has been extensively investigated.