Researchers Discover an "Off Switch" For Pain In the Brain

concertina226 writes Scientists working together from several international universities have discovered that it is possible to block a pathway in the brain of animals suffering from neuropathic pain, which could have a huge impact on improving pain relief in humans. So far, the most successful ways to treat chronic pain from a pharmacological point of view are to create drugs that that interact or interfere with various channels in the brain to decrease pain, including adrenergic, opioid and calcium receptors. However, there is another way – a chemical stimulator called adenosine that binds to brain receptors to trigger a biological response. Adenosine has shown potential for killing pain in humans, but so far, no one has managed to harness this pain pathway successfully without causing a myriad of side effects. Led by Dr Daniela Salvemini of SLU, the researchers discovered that by activating the A3 adenosine receptor in the rodents' brains and spinal cords, the receptor was able to prevent or reverse pain from nerve damage (the cause of chronic pain).

Comments

All or nothing

[TWX]

I'm curious if this'll be an all-or-nothing thing, or if there are degrees of gradation. Pain itself serves good in that it prevents one from doing things that cause it, so we don't injure ourselves.

Also makes me wonder if pain caused by emotion or stress would be affected, and to what degree. It's been said that emotional pain is a physical response, the body literally making itself ill or hurt, so I wonder.

Re:All or nothing

[ColdWetDog]

Doubtful it will be a 'switch' like one thinks about in electronics or logic. It is a complex pathway so there will be plenty of other regulatory and counter regulatory effects. Of interest, is that there are a number of drugs already in trials that work on similar pathways, so it's a bit doubtful that these researchers have found a magic bullet type of thing.

And even if they can shut it off completely in animal studies, it is a long road to developing a useful clinical treatment.

Don't short opium growers just yet.

Re:All or nothing

[Anonymous Coward]

Except in the case of PTSD, the symtom is really all that matters.

Re:All or nothing

[labnet]

I'd be interested to see if this has an impact on tinnitus, which for most people who suffer it, is like audio neuropathic pain.

Re:Combine this with Fear switch

[wonkey_monkey]

Really. You don't think fear makes humans dangerous?