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Breakthrough in Pain Management: New Drug Compound Targets Delta Opioid Receptors
Researchers at the University of Florida have identified a promising new drug compound that selectively activates pain-modulating receptors in the body, potentially providing a safer alternative to traditional pain medications.
A study recently published in Nature Communications highlights how this compound offers pain relief without the serious side effects that often accompany opioid use. The research was financially supported by the National Institutes of Health.
The body utilizes three types of opioid receptors to manage pain, functioning similarly to traffic control systems that regulate flow on a busy highway. A deep understanding of these pathways is crucial for creating safer pain medications. Current treatments that target the mu receptors can stop pain effectively, but they carry significant risks such as respiratory depression and addiction. In contrast, UF researchers have shifted their focus to the delta opioid receptor, which holds the promise of delivering pain relief with enhanced safety profiles.
“Delta receptors are widely distributed throughout the body along pathways and neurons that carry pain signals to the brain,” explained Jay McLaughlin, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacodynamics at the UF College of Pharmacy. “Engaging delta receptors does not lead to respiratory depression as mu receptors do. If we can create drugs that effectively target delta receptors, we could achieve significant pain relief without the deadly risks associated with current options.”
The urgency for safer pain management solutions cannot be overstated. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that nearly 25% of U.S. adults suffered from chronic pain in 2023, with around 10% experiencing pain intense enough to restrict their daily activities. Furthermore, research suggests that the economic impact of chronic pain exceeds $600 billion each year.
“Chronic pain presents a relentless challenge that greatly diminishes quality of life,” McLaughlin noted. “Given the aging population, it is critical to explore new therapeutic options that mitigate harmful side effects.”
Over the past three years, a collaborative team of scientists from UF, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Southern California has investigated the functionality of opioid receptors and applied their findings to the development of safer pain management solutions.
One of the major concerns with delta receptors has been their association with seizures, which has restricted their use in clinical settings. The research team has navigated this obstacle by modifying a pre-existing drug to interact with a particular region of the delta receptor, thus enabling it to provide analgesic effects without the adverse consequences of conventional opioids.
“By leveraging new understandings of receptor activity, our novel compound exhibited pain-relieving properties in mouse models without serious opioid-related side effects such as respiratory issues,” McLaughlin stated. “This advancement in scientific research is significant; if we can craft safer medications using this methodology, it may have broader applications beyond pain management, including treatment for heart disease and blood pressure regulation, as these conditions are also mediated by receptors with similar operational characteristics.”
Despite these promising results, McLaughlin stressed the necessity for further research and clinical trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of targeting delta opioid receptors for pain treatment.
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