Researchers at Rutgers University have uncovered a new way to control the sense of touch, which could pave the way for more effective treatments for chronic pain.
Their study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how a natural molecule called phosphatidic acid can influence the body’s sensitivity to touch, offering hope for those suffering from long-term pain.
The research team, led by Tibor Rohacs, a professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a member of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute, discovered that phosphatidic acid can reduce the activity of certain ion channels in the body that are responsible for sensing touch.
These ion channels play a crucial role in how we perceive sensations like touch, temperature, and pain.
“Finding a natural molecule that can specifically reduce pain sensitivity is a significant step forward in developing new ways to manage pain,” said Professor Rohacs.
“Our ultimate goal is to turn these findings into effective treatments that can improve the quality of life for people dealing with chronic pain.”
The study’s first author, Matthew Gabrielle, a doctoral student in Professor Rohacs’ lab, explained how the team increased the levels of phosphatidic acid in cells.
They found that when these levels were raised, the cells became less sensitive to touch.
This effect was further confirmed in experiments on sensory neurons and in tests with mice. In the mice, reducing the formation of phosphatidic acid made them more sensitive to touch, while increasing it had the opposite effect.
“This discovery adds to the growing evidence that lipids—fat molecules—are important regulators of how we perceive touch and other sensations,” Gabrielle noted.
“By focusing on these natural pathways that control touch sensitivity, we can create more targeted and effective pain treatments.”
The implications of this research are particularly promising for conditions involving inflammatory pain, where existing pain relief options often fall short. By targeting the specific mechanisms that regulate pain sensitivity, the researchers hope to develop therapies that offer better relief for those who struggle with chronic pain.
This breakthrough represents an important advance in our understanding of how the body processes sensations and opens up new possibilities for treating pain in a way that is both natural and precise.
With further research, these findings could lead to new, more effective treatments that help millions of people suffering from chronic pain live more comfortable lives.
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Source: Rutgers University.
