Lower back pain is something most people will deal with at some point—around 8 out of 10 people, in fact. It can be mild or severe, short-term or chronic, and it often gets worse with age. A recent study has found that an existing drug called Navitoclax might help reduce this kind of pain by targeting aging cells in the spine.
Scientists behind the study, published as a peer-reviewed preprint in the journal eLife, focused on a special type of bone cell called an osteoclast. These cells normally break down old or damaged bone so the body can rebuild healthy bone in its place.
But when osteoclasts get old and stop working properly—a condition known as cellular senescence—they can actually cause harm instead of helping.
The researchers discovered that these senescent osteoclasts play a major role in lower back pain. They damage a part of the spine called the endplate, which sits between each vertebra and the spinal disks. When these endplates become porous and weak, they allow new nerves to grow into the area, which can trigger pain.
To test this theory, the researchers used mice that had either age-related spine problems or spine instability. They found large numbers of senescent osteoclasts in these mice, along with signs of pain and spine damage.
Then they gave the mice Navitoclax—a drug that is already being studied for its ability to remove old, damaged cells in other parts of the body. The results were very encouraging. The treated mice had fewer senescent osteoclasts, stronger endplates, and far less pain. They also became more active, which is a good sign that their discomfort had eased.
Further tests showed that the drug reduced not just bone damage, but also the growth of new nerves and blood vessels in the damaged area—both of which are known to make pain worse. In other words, the drug didn’t just treat the symptoms; it seemed to go after one of the root causes of the pain.
This approach is different from most current treatments for lower back pain, which often focus on pain relief through medication, physical therapy, or surgery. By targeting the aging cells that contribute to bone damage and nerve growth, Navitoclax could offer a new way to actually prevent or reverse the changes that cause pain.
Still, the researchers warn that this is just the beginning. While the results in mice are exciting, it’s too soon to say whether the same effects will happen in people. Navitoclax also has side effects, and more research is needed to find out if it’s safe and effective for treating back pain in humans.
Review and Analysis
This study offers a fresh and promising way to think about lower back pain. Instead of simply trying to manage pain, the researchers are exploring how to stop it at the source—by removing faulty, aging cells that damage the spine. If further research confirms the results, Navitoclax or similar drugs could be developed into a new type of treatment for back pain.
This is especially important as the population ages and more people experience chronic back pain. The idea of using drugs that clear out old, harmful cells—known as senolytics—is gaining attention in many areas of medicine, including cancer, aging, and now pain.
However, turning this idea into a safe and reliable treatment for people will take time. Clinical trials are needed to test the drug’s safety and effectiveness in humans, especially since Navitoclax was not originally designed for back pain.
In conclusion, the study points to an exciting new direction for treating one of the most common and frustrating health problems. If future trials go well, we may see the development of therapies that go beyond pain relief and actually target the biological changes causing the pain in the first place.
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
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