Korean J Pain.  2006 Jun;19(1):8-16. 10.3344/kjp.2006.19.1.8.

RGS Proteins and Opioid Signaling

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. kkj6063@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
  • 3Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The regulators of the G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are responsible for the rapid acceleration of the GTPase-activity intrinsic to the heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. As GTPase-activating proteins (GAP), the RGS proteins negatively regulate the G-protein signals. Recently, the RGS proteins are known to be one of the important regulators of opioid signal transduction and the development of tolerance. The aim of this study was to review the recent discovery and understanding of the role of RGS proteins in opioid signaling and the development of tolerance. This information will be useful for medical personnel, particularly those involved in anesthesia and pain medicine, by helping them improve the effective use of opioids and develop new drugs that can prevent opioid tolerance.

Keyword

opioid; regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) protein; tolerance

MeSH Terms

Acceleration
Analgesics, Opioid
Anesthesia
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
GTP-Binding Proteins
GTPase-Activating Proteins
RGS Proteins*
Signal Transduction
Analgesics, Opioid
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
GTP-Binding Proteins
GTPase-Activating Proteins
RGS Proteins
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