On Wednesday, November 26, 2014 scientific efforts led by Salvemini at Saint Louis University Medical Center believe that the finding of blocking a pain pathway in animal models will lead to a "promising" new approach to pain relief. The findings have produced the results that blocking a pain pathway in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain including pain caused by chemotherapeutic agents and bone cancer pain suggesting a promising new approach to pain relief. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that turning on a receptor in the brain and spinal cord counteracts chronic nerve pain in male and female rodents. The activation of the A3 receptor by either the natural chemical stimulator, adenosine, or a powerful synthetic drug invented by the NIH, prevents or reverses pain that slowly develops from nerve damage.
These findings are significant because pain is a significant issue that many individuals suffer from on a daily basis. Additionally, some treatments result in intolerable side effects and do not prevent the pain. The pathways that are typically targeted are circuits involving opioid, adrenergic, and calcium channels where scientists take advantage of the molecular-level component interactions.
Moreover, Salvemini and colleagues demonstrated that the activation of A3 adenosine is key in mediating the pain relieving effects of adenosine. Salvemini states that, "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." Researchers are excited to note that A3AR agonist are already in advanced clinical trials as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents which also display good safety profiles.
I found this article to be quite interesting and intriguing to read about. Pain is a persistent annoyance that many individuals go through on a daily-basis, myself included and these findings can be a step in the right direction to helping out so many individuals live a healthy and active life.
Main article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141126132639.htm
