Researchers identify new molecular targets for chronic pain relief

Researchers have identified two potential new pathways for treating chronic and neuropathic pain through molecular and antibody-based interventions.

At Boston University, scientists discovered that blocking the RGS4 protein in the dorsal root ganglia can return the nervous system to a normal state in experimental models. The study suggests that chronic pain may be maintained by molecular changes in sensory nerves that increase sensitivity. Because the proteins controlling this process are also expressed in human nerve tissue, RGS4 is considered a viable target for future human treatments.

In a separate preclinical study, researchers from the University of Toyama and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. developed humanized antibodies designed to target the Nav1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel. In rat models of neuropathic pain, these antibodies were able to suppress abnormal pain signals for several days after intravenous administration. Notably, the treatment appeared to leave normal, protective pain sensations largely intact, offering a way to silence malfunctioning nerve signals without dulling the body’s essential warning systems.