He Dangui, Lei Yining, Qin Haixin, Cao Zhijian, Kwok Hang Fai
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR.
National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, Hubei Province, China.
Int J Biol Sci. 2025 Apr 21;21(7):2921-2934. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.109713. eCollection 2025.
Scorpion toxins significantly disrupt the normal function of ion channels, leading to abnormal nerve excitability and severe pain responses. Notably, α-type sodium channel toxins (α-NaTx) and β-type sodium channel toxins (β-NaTx) target sodium channels through distinct mechanisms: α-NaTx prolongs channel opening, while β-NaTx lowers the activation threshold, resulting in persistent nerve overexcitation and heightened pain. This review synthesizes current knowledge on pain-inducing venom peptides isolated from various scorpion species, elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms involving ion channels. Furthermore, it explores the potential applications of these toxins in scientific research and drug development, highlighting their significance in advancing our understanding of pain mechanisms and facilitating the development of novel analgesic therapies.
蝎子毒素会严重破坏离子通道的正常功能，导致神经兴奋性异常和剧烈疼痛反应。值得注意的是，α型钠通道毒素（α-NaTx）和β型钠通道毒素（β-NaTx）通过不同机制作用于钠通道：α-NaTx延长通道开放时间，而β-NaTx降低激活阈值，导致神经持续过度兴奋和疼痛加剧。本综述综合了目前从各种蝎子物种中分离出的致痛毒液肽的知识，阐明了涉及离子通道的潜在分子机制。此外，还探讨了这些毒素在科学研究和药物开发中的潜在应用，强调了它们在推进我们对疼痛机制的理解以及促进新型镇痛疗法开发方面的重要性。
