New Pain Therapy Reverses Glial Activation

Researchers believe that delivering the gene for interleukin-10 (IL-10) to the affected region may reverse glial activation and relieve chronic pain. Their findings from a number of studies showing proof of principle were presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in New Orleans (LA, USA).

Glial cells have an important role in pain. When they are activated in response to nerve damage, tumors, or viruses, they produce increased levels of substances that enhance the neuron's response to pain signals. These substances then activate other glia. When a critical level is reached, it produces a self-perpetuating feedback loop that can continue even after the original cause of pain has been resolved. The researchers have focused on the effectiveness of the powerful, naturally occurring anti-inflammatory protein IL-10 to block or reverse glial activation. Studies in rats have demonstrated that it can prevent or reverse every enhanced pain state examined to date.

"A new model for the etiology of chronic pain is quickly emerging as researchers around the world are developing a better understanding of the underlying causes of chronic pain,” said Linda Watkins, Ph.D., professor in the department of psychology and the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder (USA; www.colorado.edu) and co-author of a paper published in the December 1, 2003, issue of Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. Dr. Watkins and colleagues are working with Avigen, Inc. (San Francisco, CA, USA) on the development of a new pain treatment.




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