New research highlights ‘off switch’ for chronic pain

A US study has highlighted the potential benefits of blocking a pain pathway in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain, suggesting a new treatment approach for chronic pain.

Carried out by Saint Louis University, the research demonstrated that turning on a receptor in the brain and spinal cord counteracts chronic nerve pain in male and female rodents. Activating the A3 receptor was shown to prevent or reverse pain that develops slowly from nerve damage, without causing analgesic tolerance or intrinsic reward.

This was achieved using either using the receptor's native chemical stimulator – the small molecule adenosine – or by powerful synthetic small molecule drugs.

It is hoped that this could be used to address a number of different types of chronic pain, including that caused by chemotherapeutic agents and bone cancer pain.

Dr Daniela Salvemini, lead researcher at Saint Louis University, said: "It has long been appreciated that harnessing the potent pain-killing effects of adenosine could provide a breakthrough step towards an effective treatment for chronic pain."

Almost ten million people in Britain suffer chronic pain almost daily, resulting in a major impact on their quality of life and leading to days taken off work.