Researchers from the United States have developed a new drug for local treatment of inflammatory pain. The article is published in the journal Nature Communications.
Scientists from the University of New York Buffalo found that in order to signal the pain, a special type of neurons – containing a peptide associated with the calcitonine gene – uses endocytosis, the process in which the cell captures solid particles or living cells. It turned out that they usually express the AP2A2 subunit, which other sensory neurons of the spinal ganglia do not do. Scientists found out that it participates in the development and regulation of inflammatory pain.
“When we suppressed endocytosis using genetic or pharmacological approaches, a significant decrease in pain was observed,” said Powell Ringan Research Authors. The introduction of the AP2 lipidized peptide developed by scientists at the end of pain neurons made it possible to significantly reduce their hyperactivity. “Suppressing endocytosis, we were able to prevent the transmission of information about pain in the central nervous system,” says Powell. Model animals have a peptide action for up to six days.
According to scientists, the advantage of a new painkiller is that its use allows to avoid emerging from many drugs, in particular, opioids, dependence.