New Gene Presents Game Changer for Patients with Chronic Pain

 Cassidy DeMasi

11/25/2025

Dr. Barbato

                     New Gene Presents Game Changer for Patients with Chronic Pain 

Who wants to consistently live in pain? Chronic pain is pain that recurrent pain that lasts for more than six months, or whatever your body's healing time would be. This pain, being so consistent, can affect the quality of your life and could potentially stay with you for the rest of your life. Examples of chronic pain include arthritis, postsurgical pain, chronic migraines, neuropathy, cancer-related pain, and fibromyalgia. Some patients live in so much pain that they have no other choice but to treat the pain with highly addictive opioids. This can cause some patients to fall into drug addiction. 

However, researchers have identified a finding that could potentially help address this problem and safely treat chronic pain. Researchers have identified a new gene called the SLC45A4 gene that directly controls and affects pain sensitivity. This is so big because if scientists could find a way to manipulate this gene, there could be a potential treatment for diminishing the pain using genetic manipulation. The article states a direct quote, "We discovered a new pain gene, gained insights into the atomic structure of this molecule, and connected its function to the excitability of neurons that respond to tissue injury. Ultimately, our findings reveal a promising new target for the treatment of chronic pain" (Breakthrough Discovery Reveals New Gene Linked to Chronic Pain, 2024). The idea of being able to cease pain function for patients with chronic pain is a game-changer. Especially with those who have no other option for pain management with a previous addiction in the family or addictive qualities. 

 Sources 

Breakthrough discovery reveals new gene linked to chronic pain. (2024). Ox.ac.uk. https://www.bioch.ox.ac.uk/article/breakthrough-discovery-reveals-new-gene-linked-to-chronic-pain-0

Mayo Clinic. (2024, July 20). How opioid addiction occurs. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/how-opioid-addiction-occurs/art-20360372

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Mice Allow for Replication of Painlessness Mutation

There is a rare genetic mutation that prevents affected people from feeling pain. People affected by this mutation are born without a functioning sodium pathway Nav1.7. A new study was done in order to replicate this mutation in order for use with chronic pain patients in the future. Mice were used in this study, and it was found that both mice and humans affected by the mutation produce more opioid peptides. In order to observe whether or not opioids were important for painlessness, they gave an opioid blocker, naxalone, to the affected subjects. They found that they were able to feel pain afterwards.

Pain medicine for chronic pain patients is usually long term and can have bad side effects. The study resulted in filing a patent for a combination of opioids and Nav1.7 blockers in order to manage pain for effectively. This study also reinforced the fact that transgenic mice are able to model the nervous system of humans in order to test ways to replicate mutations from humans.

These findings are going to be extremely important when trying to treat patients with chronic pain. It eliminates the need for modern day pain medication. Patients usually develop a tolerance and a dependence on these medications that can have long lasting side effects. People with the affected mutation seem to develop no tolerance to opioids even though their bodies create more than the average person. If the researchers are able to find the right combination of blockers and opioids, this could lead to a real solution for pain.

Original Article.