Researchers Discover New Method To Combat Chronic Pain

Researchers have discovered a method for blocking a pain pathway, which could spearhead a new approach to chronic pain treatment, according to a recent study.

“Chronic pain is a global burden that promotes disability and unnecessary suffering. To date, efficacious treatment of chronic pain has not been achieved. Thus, new therapeutic targets are needed,” said the study’s authors.^{1
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“Here, we demonstrate that increasing endogenous adenosine levels through selective adenosine kinase inhibition produces powerful analgesic effects in rodent models of experimental neuropathic pain through the adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3) signaling pathway,” they said. ^1,2

After activating the ADORA3 in rodents,² researchers noticed a reversal in pain that had manifested from nerve damage over time, and found no trace of issues with analgesic tolerance or intrinsic reward that are typically caused from opioid use.²

Investigators noted that ADORA3 agonists are currently showing good safety profiles in advanced clinical trials where they are being used as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents.

The complete study is published in the November issue of Brain.

-Michelle Canales

References:

1. Little JW, Ford A, Symons-Liguori AM, et al. Endogenous adenosine A3 receptor activation selectively alleviates persistent pain states. Brain. 2014 November [epub ahead of print] doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awu330.

2. Saint Louis University. SLU researcher finds an off switch for pain. November 20, 2014. www.slu.edu/x98903.xml. Accessed December 1, 2014.