Navigating through the intricacies of pain management has always been a significant challenge in healthcare.
Researchers at the University of Oxford, along with their colleagues at Cambridge University and Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, are pushing boundaries in this area by exploring the potential of a new gene therapy to treat persistent pain, seeking a viable alternative to current drugs that can be highly addictive.
Innovative Approaches with Chemogenetics
In a world where many pain management drugs can lead to addictive behaviors, finding alternative and safe ways to manage chronic pain is pivotal.
Chemogenetics opens a new avenue in this quest. Essentially, chemogenetics involves modifying molecules that control the activity of neurons so that they only become active in the presence of a particular non-toxic drug.
Previous studies using animals have shown promise in utilizing this process to dampen the excitability of neurons.
In the context of pain management, Jimena Perez-Sanchez, a postdoctoral research scientist, Steven Middleton, and their team have illuminated a path where chemogenetics can potentially be applied in human treatment.
Experiments and Findings
The research began with the expression of a gene known as PSAM4-GlyR in mouse sensory neurons.
This gene, part of a chemogenetic system, is based on human protein receptors and was activated using varenicline, a drug already approved for clinical use.
The activation not only inhibited the sensory neurons but also mitigated pain hypersensitivity that is often seen with conditions like arthritis or nerve injury in mice.
Taking a step further, the team applied this approach to human neurons, specifically ones derived from a patient with erythromelalgia – a condition that results in burning pain.
The activation of the PSAM4-GlyR system in these neurons curtailed their activity and brought down hyperactivity to normal levels.
Looking Forward to a Future Without Chronic Pain
“The whole team are pleased to have shown the potential of a gene therapy approach for the treatment of chronic pain which remains one of the great unmet health needs,” expressed David Bennett, Professor of Neurology and Neurobiology, and Jimena Perez-Sanchez.
This breakthrough is substantial. The treatment managed to “switch off” hyperactive nerve fibers, targeting the initial component of the pain circuit, and potentially circumventing the risk of addiction associated with conventional painkillers like opioids.
Although there is still a journey ahead to validate these findings further within human pain models, the research underscores the influential role of sensory neuron hyperactivity in persistent pain stemming from arthritis or nervous system injuries.
It also highlights the transformative potential of engineering human protein receptors to craft new strategies in pain management.
In essence, we find ourselves on the brink of potentially shaping a future where managing pain might not mean grappling with the chains of addiction, thanks to the revolutionary insights provided by chemogenetics and the relentless pursuit of science in seeking better answers to age-old problems.
If you care about arthritis, please read studies about extra virgin olive oil for arthritis, and pomegranate: A natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
For more information about arthritis, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing medical cannabis may help reduce arthritis pain, back pain.
The research findings can be found in Science Translational Medicine.
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