Researchers find key for curing chronic pain

Scientists are reporting a breakthrough in chronic pain research. They have discovered a gene that is critical in regulating chronic pain and believe that treatments targeting the gene can reduce or relieve such pain in patients.

LONDON, ENGLAND (Catholic Online) - The gene is called, HCN2 and researchers say it is responsible for regulating chronic or persistent pain. They have found that when the gene is removed or inhibited from producing proteins, it reduces the sensation of pain. 

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, usually in the form of inflammatory pain, which is caused by persistent injury that stimulates nerves, and neuropathic pain that is the result of damage to the nerves themselves. 

More importantly, researchers have found that inhibiting the gene does not reduce acute pain, which has been a concern with pain treatments. Acute pain is the pain that results from sharp, painful stimuli such as a cut or a burn, and while unpleasant, it is essential to prevent severe injury. This means researchers can develop methods to target chronic pain without increasing the risk that a patient may harm themselves as a result of pain-reducing medication or therapy.
 
Researchers have long known that the gene, HCN2 was closely tied to pain, but they previously thought it regulated electrical activity in nerves. When they realized it contributed to pain by producing proteins, they decided to see what inhibiting its protein production would do. 

Researchers tested mice, exposing them to painful stimuli after inhibiting or removing the gene. They found the mice did not experience the same levels of pain as those that had the gene functioning normally. 

Researchers suggests that developing human treatments which inhibit the gene's protein production can help reduce or even stop chronic pain in patients. 

The study was published by researchers from the University of Cambridge in England and the University of Cadiz in Spain. Their report is published in the journal, Science. 

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