- Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences have discovered a new method to make opioids safer by enhancing their pain-relieving properties while reducing negative side effects through spinal inhibition of a specific Heat shock protein 90 isoform.
- Opioids are commonly used for chronic pain but can lead to harmful side effects like addiction, constipation, and respiratory depression. This study offers a potential solution to treat pain more effectively and safely by decreasing opioid dosage and lowering addiction risks.
- Heat shock protein 90 is a protein that influences opioid signaling in the spinal cord, and inhibiting a specific isoform of this protein can enhance the pain relief benefits of opioids.
- By targeting individual isoforms of Heat shock protein 90, researchers were able to increase the potency of morphine’s pain relief effects while reducing tolerance and negative side effects.
- This research could lead to the development of new drugs that combine opioid therapy with selective Hsp90 inhibitors, providing better pain relief with fewer side effects for individuals suffering from chronic pain.
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Anesthesiology, Pharmacists, Pain Management