Millions of people around the world suffer from long-term low back pain. This type of pain can last for years and often makes it hard for people to do normal daily activities.
Most treatments today only focus on easing the pain with drugs or surgery. These treatments do not fix the real cause of the problem.
Now, researchers from McGill University in Canada may have found a better way. In a recent study with mice, they discovered that two special drugs can remove harmful cells in the spine and reduce back pain. The study was led by Professor Lisbet Haglund and was published in the journal Science Advances.
The harmful cells are called “zombie cells,” or more scientifically, senescent cells. These are old cells that have stopped working but don’t die. Instead, they stay in the body and release harmful chemicals that cause swelling, pain, and damage to tissues like spinal disks. These cells can build up as people get older or after back injuries.
In the study, the team tested two drugs. One is called RG-7112, a cancer drug already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The other is o-Vanillin, a natural chemical found in turmeric, a spice used in cooking. O-Vanillin has anti-inflammatory effects, meaning it helps reduce swelling.
The drugs were given to mice by mouth for eight weeks. Some mice got just one drug, while others got both together. Amazingly, both drugs were able to clear out the zombie cells in the spine. They also reduced pain and swelling and even helped repair the damaged spinal disks. When the drugs were used together, the effects were even stronger.
This is exciting because spinal disks are deep inside the body, and it’s usually very hard to get medicine to reach them. Professor Haglund said the team was surprised that taking the medicine by mouth worked so well. This may help doctors treat back pain more easily in the future.
Interestingly, the team added o-Vanillin to the study almost by chance. They knew it had some helpful effects and wanted to try it. To their surprise, it turned out to be one of the most powerful parts of the treatment. This is the first time o-Vanillin has been shown to remove zombie cells from the spine, and the team now wants to study it more.
RG-7112 has already shown good results for other conditions like cancer and joint problems. But this is the first time it’s been tested for back pain. The researchers believe that these types of drugs could be useful for other problems that come with age, like arthritis or bone thinning.
Next, the scientists plan to improve o-Vanillin so that it stays in the body longer and works even better. They also hope to do studies with people to see if the treatment works the same way in humans. These first results are very hopeful.
In short, this study could change the way back pain is treated. Instead of just covering up the pain, doctors might one day be able to remove the bad cells that cause it. That could bring real and lasting relief to millions of people.
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