Lower back pain, a prevalent condition affecting 8 in 10 people at some point in their lives, may find a potential solution in an existing drug that targets senescent cells, as indicated by a recent study.
The research, published as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, sheds light on the role of senescent osteoclasts—cells responsible for breaking down and removing damaged bone tissue—in the development of lower back pain.
The study reveals compelling evidence that the drug Navitoclax can eliminate senescent osteoclasts in mice, significantly reducing spinal pain.
Senescent Osteoclasts and Their Role in Lower Back Pain
Osteoclasts play a crucial role in the body’s natural bone remodeling and maintenance process by resorbing and breaking down bone tissue.
However, when these cells become senescent, they lose their normal functioning, leading to issues with bone maintenance and repair. Previous research has linked senescence to age-related musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis.
The study’s lead author, Dayu Pan, explains that senescent osteoclasts can contribute to the development of lower back pain by causing porous endplates between each vertebra and disk, allowing new nerves to infiltrate and induce pain.
Research Methodology and Findings
The research team began by identifying senescent osteoclasts in the porous endplates of vertebrae in mice with spine hypersensitivity related to aging and lumbar spine instability.
They observed a strong association between the presence of senescent osteoclasts and the degree of spine degeneration and hypersensitivity in both cases.
Next, they investigated whether Navitoclax, a drug targeting senescent cells, could eliminate senescent osteoclasts and alleviate spinal hypersensitivity.
The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in senescent osteoclasts, reduced pain, and increased activity in mice with both types of spine degeneration.
Further analysis, including spinal scans and microscopic examination of bone tissue, revealed reduced degeneration and porosity in the endplates, as well as decreased separation between them in the treated mice.
This suggests that Navitoclax can prevent the degeneration and remodeling associated with aging or spine instability.
The study also examined the role of senescent osteoclasts in the growth of nerves and blood vessels within the endplate bone, contributing to sensitivity.
Mice treated with the anti-senescence drug exhibited fewer nerves and blood vessels within the endplate, suggesting that senescent osteoclasts play a role in this process.
Implications and Future Research
The findings suggest a potential role for anti-senescent drugs like Navitoclax in treating lower back pain. However, further evaluation in clinical trials is necessary before such treatments can be considered for patients with lower back pain.
Depletion of senescent osteoclasts may offer a new approach to address the root causes of lower back pain, but more research is required to validate its effectiveness.
Conclusion
This study presents promising insights into the use of existing drugs to target senescent cells and alleviate lower back pain by addressing the role of senescent osteoclasts in spine degeneration.
While it may pave the way for innovative treatments, clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of such approaches in real-world settings.
If you care about pain management, please read studies about Scientists find a new drug for chronic nerve pain and findings of Scientists find a new, less-invasive way to tackle knee pain.
For more information about pain, please see recent studies about why people with red hair respond differently to pain than others, and results showing this drug may relieve painful ‘long covid’ symptoms.
The research findings can be found in eLife.
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