Blocked pain can prolong life

Blockade of pain receptor is said to delay aging and metabolic disorders

05/23/2014

If a particular pain receptor is blocked in mice, the animals live longer. This was the result of a study by US researchers at the University of California at Berkeley. Thus, the aging process is delayed when genetically modified rodents lack the receptor called TRPV1, which also occurs in humans in nerves, skin and joints.

Pain receptor affects life expectancy
People with chronic pain have a shorter life expectancy than healthy people. This is proven by various studies. Andrew Dillin and his colleagues focused on the pain receptor TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1) to find out how its blockade would affect life expectancy. Like the researchers in the journal „Cell“ they carried out tests with genetically modified mice that lacked TRPV1. The pain receptor, for example, in nerve fibers leading to the pancreas, is responsible, inter alia, for stimulating the release of substances that inhibit the release of insulin, which in turn lowers the blood sugar level.

„The blockade of this pain receptor and signaling pathway could be very, very important not only for pain relief, but also improve lifespan and metabolic health, especially in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, "Dillin cites in a statement from the university. „As people also report a higher incidence of pain with age, this may indicate that pain is directing the aging process.“

Blocked pain receptor can reduce risk of diabetes
The study showed that mice without the pain receptor lived just under four months longer than genetically modified animals. This corresponds to an increase in life expectancy of about 14 percent. In addition, the researchers showed that the rodents without TRPV1 in age had slightly better blood glucose levels and fewer metabolic disorders. A reason for the healthier aging to see the researchers in the reduced concentration of the protein CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptides), which occurs in older people in larger quantities and increases blood sugar. As a result, type 2 diabetes can develop. To verify this relationship, the researchers used an agent for migraine that reduces the effect of CGRP receptors. As expected, the metabolism of the mice rejuvenated after administration of the agent.

The theory of the researchers is also supported by another animal: Nacktmullen lacks CRGP in some nerve cells. The animals can be 30 years and thus many times older than related rodents.

Capsaicin in chili pepper contains substance that turns off the pain receptor
Further evidence of the relationship between the pain receptor and the aging process could be provided by capsaicin, which is an ingredient of sharp chilli peppers. Capsaicin activates TRPV1, but causes permanent nerve cell death and pain receptor death. People who eat capsaicin-rich foods are said to be better protected from diabetes and other metabolic problems.

„Our results suggest that drug manipulation of TRPV1 and CGRP promotes a healthy metabolism and improves the lifespan“, so Dillin. „Alternatively, the long-term use of drugs that affect TRPV1 may help prevent metabolic disorders in old age and increase people's life expectancy.“