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

Abstract

Chronic pain is an enormous modern public health problem, with significant numbers of people debilitated by chronic pain from a variety of etiologies. Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) was discovered in 1977 as a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor. It is a five transmembrane domain protein, mainly localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Recent and increasing studies have found changes in TSPO and its ligands in various chronic pain models. Reversing their expressions has been shown to alleviate chronic pain in these models, illustrating the effects of TSPO and its ligands. Herein, we review recent evidence and the mechanisms of TSPO in the development of chronic pain associated with peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injury, cancer, and inflammatory responses. The cumulative evidence indicates that TSPO-based therapy may become an alternative strategy for treating chronic pain.

Translocator protein expression and localization in human endometrium and endometriosis: A potential target for a noninvasive diagnosis?

“…The translocator protein (TSPO), also known as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, (Braestrup & Squires, 1977) is a potential tool for a more specific and sensitive noninvasive imaging of endometriotic lesions. It is an 18 kDa protein with five transmembrane domains, mainly localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane of the neurons and is involved in membrane biogenesis, bioenergetics, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immunomodulation (Liu et al, 2022; Morin et al, 2016; Taketani et al, 1994). Together with the steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR), TSPO has an important role in the first, rate‐limiting step of steroid hormone biosynthesis, as both proteins mobilize cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane to be converted into pregnenolone (Stocco et al, 2017).…”