Researchers in Japan reveal a previously unknown mechanism for pain control involving a newly identified group of cells in the spinal cord, offering a potential target for enhancing the therapeutic effect of drugs for chronic pain.
Originally named after the Greek word for “glue,” these glial cells are now known to be much more than glue and in fact are critical elements for regulating neuronal development and function in the central nervous system. Among the different types of glial cells, astrocytes are the most abundant in the central nervous system.
Pain Hypersensitivity Astrocytes
Researchers led by Makoto Tsuda, professor at Kyushu University’s Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, have discovered a unique population of spinal cord astrocytes with a role in producing pain hypersensitivity. Their study is published in Nature Neuroscience.
Found in the outer two layers of gray matter near the back of the spinal cord–a location referred to as the superficial laminae of the spinal dorsal horn–the astrocytes are in a region known to carry general sensory information such as pressure, pain, and heat from around the body to the brain.
Using mice, the researchers showed that stimulating noradrenergic (NAergic) neurons–so called for their use of noradrenaline as a neurotransmitter–that carry signals from the locus coeruleus (LC) in the brain down to the spinal dorsal horn activates the astrocytes and that the astrocyte activation results in pain hypersensitivity.
These observations overturn the prevailing view that descending LC-NAergic neurons suppress pain transmission in the spinal dorsal horn, a media release from Kyushu University explains.
“The discovery of this new population of astrocytes reveals a new role of descending LC-NAergic neurons in facilitating spinal pain transmission.”
— Makoto Tsuda
May Help Enhance Effect of Drugs for Chronic Pain
Considering these findings, suppressing signaling of these astrocytes by noradrenaline may enhance the effect of drugs for chronic pain.
To initially test this, the researchers genetically engineered mice in which response of astrocytes to noradrenaline was selectively inhibited and gave them duloxetine, an analgesic drug thought to increase levels of noradrenaline in the spinal cord by preventing uptake by descending LC-NAergic neurons.
Indeed, the modified mice exhibited an enhanced easing of chronic pain by duloxetine, further supporting the researchers’ proposed role of the astrocytes.
“Although we still need more studies with different drugs, this astrocyte population appears to be a very promising target for enhancing the therapeutic potential of drugs for chronic pain.”
[Source(s): Kyushu University, Newswise]
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