Lower back pain is a problem most people face at some point, affecting about 8 out of 10 individuals in their lives.
Scientists are now studying a drug called Navitoclax, which may offer relief by addressing a surprising cause: aging cells known as senescent cells.
Senescent cells are like old, worn-out cells that stop dividing but don’t die as they should.
These cells tend to build up as we age, and their presence is linked to many age-related health problems. In this case, researchers focused on a specific type of senescent cell called a senescent osteoclast.
Osteoclasts are cells that help maintain healthy bones by breaking down old or damaged bone tissue. However, when they become senescent, they stop doing their job properly. Instead of promoting healthy bone repair, these aged cells can cause problems, such as weak bones and lower back pain.
The study, published in the journal eLife, explains how these senescent osteoclasts might lead to pain.
According to the research team, led by Dayu Pan, these malfunctioning cells can make the bone between the vertebrae, called the endplates, more porous. This porous bone allows nerves to grow into areas they normally wouldn’t, which can cause pain.
To explore this, scientists studied mice with spine problems caused by aging and unstable lower backs.
They found that mice with more senescent osteoclasts had worse spine issues and were more sensitive to pain. This led them to test Navitoclax, a drug known for its ability to clear out senescent cells.
After treatment with Navitoclax, the results were impressive. The mice had fewer senescent osteoclasts, experienced less pain, and became more active.
The drug also improved the condition of the bone. The endplates became less porous, reducing the chances of new nerve growth in these areas, which helped alleviate pain.
The researchers also looked at how these aging cells encouraged the growth of new nerves and blood vessels in the bone. In untreated mice, senescent osteoclasts appeared to promote this growth, which made the spine more sensitive to pain.
However, mice treated with Navitoclax showed less nerve and blood vessel growth in the bone, further reducing pain and improving their condition.
These findings suggest that targeting senescent osteoclasts could provide a new way to treat lower back pain by addressing the root causes rather than just managing the symptoms.
While this study in mice is promising, the researchers caution that it’s only the first step. More research and human clinical trials are needed to ensure the treatment is safe and effective for people.
If successful, this approach could revolutionize the way we treat back pain. Instead of relying solely on painkillers or surgeries, therapies like Navitoclax could offer long-term solutions by tackling the underlying cause of the pain.
For now, this discovery adds to a growing body of research into pain management. Studies like this bring us closer to better, more targeted treatments for common conditions, offering hope to millions dealing with chronic pain. The full details of this study are available in the journal eLife.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and eating yogurt linked to lower frailty in older people.
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