Blocking Pain Receptors May Extend Life and Encourage a Youthful Metabolism

Pain and, in particular, chronic pain can cause a host of health issues. Now, though, scientists have found that blocking a pain receptor not only extends lifespan, but also can cause a more youthful metabolism--at least where mice are concerned. The findings could have major implications for the treatment of chronic pain in humans in the future.

TRPV1, or transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, is a pain receptor that can be found in the skin, nerves and joints. It reacts strongly to extremely high temperatures and other painful stimuli. The receptor is also found in nerve fibers that contact the pancreas, where it stimulates the release of substances that cause inflammation or can prevent insulin release. In the past, scientists have found that mice lacking TRPV1 are protected against diet-induced obesity. Intrigued by this, the researchers decided to investigate the role of pain a bit further.

The researchers examined mice genetically manipulated to lack TRPV1 receptors. In general, the scientists found that these mice lived nearly four months longer than normal mice. Not only that, but the mice showed signs of a more-youthful metabolism late in life, due to low levels of CGRP, a molecule that blocks insulin release resulting in increased blood glucose levels.

"We think that blocking this pain receptor and pathway could be very, very useful not only for relieving pain, but for improving lifespan and metabolic health, and in particular for treating diabetes and obesity in humans," said Andrew Dillin, one of the researchers, in a news release. "As humans age they report a higher incidence of pain, suggesting that pain might drive the aging process."

The findings could mean that blocking pain, or mimicking this process, could extend a person's healthy years of life. There actually already exists an anti-migraine drug on the market that inhibits a protein called CGRP that is triggered by TRPV1. In fact, it produces an effect that similar to blocking TRPV1; in addition, the researchers found that giving this drug to older mice restored their metabolic health to that of younger mice.

"Our findings suggest that pharmacological manipulation of TRPV1 and CGRP may improve metabolic health and longevity," said Dillin in a news release. "Alternatively, chronic ingestion of compounds that affect TRPV1 might help prevent metabolic decline with age and lead to increased longevity in humans."

The findings are published in the journal Cell.