Date Published: 14 May 2012

Researchers explain the different mechanisms of pain

Researchers at Leeds University have recently reported a previously unknown mechanism through which pain is signalled by nerve cells. This discovery may explain failings in the drug development process for painkillers. It may also offer opportunities for a new approach.

The team, led by Dr Nikita Gamper of Leeds University's Faculty of Biological Sciences, is investigating the difference between persistent pain, such as toothache, and pain that results from the increased sensitivity of nerves in injured or diseased tissue (for example when we touch inflamed skin), known as hyperalgesia. It has discovered that these two types of pain are generated by the same nerves, but result from different underlying mechanisms.

The research has involved investigating the painful effects of two substances that cause local inflammation:

• bradykinin, and
• substance P.

Both of these substances bind to specific receptors on nerve cells, generating signals to the central nervous system (CNS). The receptors are from the same family so it had always been assumed they stimulate the same signalling pathway. However, the team found that each receptor produces different signals; the one associated with bradykinin causing both hyperalgesia and persistent pain, whereas the one associated with substance P only caused hyperalgesia.

Dr Gamper said:

"Pain originates from a series of electrical signals sent by nerve cells in to the central nervous system and ultimately the brain. Despite much progress, we still don't know enough about the mechanisms by which these pain signals are generated. However, this research has shown that whilst the sensation of pain can be similar between various conditions, the underlying molecular mechanisms may in fact be very different."

Existing painkillers are 'non-specific', designed to generally dull the reception of these signals in the central nervous system. Some stronger pain killers can provoke unwanted side effects such as disorientation, drowsiness or nausea. The search for new better drugs is pressing but the lack of progress in developing truly targeted analgesics has led to several pharmaceutical companies dropping this area of research altogether.

"What's exciting about these findings is that substance P may suppress the activation of the pain sensing nerves themselves," said Dr Gamper.

" It's increasingly evident that current strategies for testing and validating new painkillers often do not take into account a possible difference in how pain signals are generated. For instance, drugs for persistent pain are often tested solely for their ability to reduce hyperalgesia, and as a result, some of the drugs that are effective in the lab, fail in subsequent clinical trials. These findings challenge current approaches in drug development research and may offer new strategies," he said.

For more about pain see also neck pain, shoulder pain and elbow pain.

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues and research, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by the source listed below on 14 May 2012 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit the website whose link follows below.