New Pain Relievers With No Addiction Risk Identified

The naturally occurring enzyme named diacylglycerol lipase-beta is the possible new drug target for reducing pain.

Natural enzyme that "chews up fat" molecules to produce chemical signals that curbs inflammation and pain was identified by Ken Hsu, a chemistry professor at the University of Virginia, and his graduate student, Myungsun Shin.//

This enzyme //called diacylglycerol lipase-beta, or DAGL?, is the possible new drug target for reducing pain. Hsu developed, during his postdoctoral training, selective molecules that inhibit DAGL? and reduce inflammation, similarly to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS.

‘DAGL could be a potential new target for long-term treatment of inflammation and pain without any risk of gastrointestinal toxicity and addiction.’
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However, unlike NSAIDs, DAGL? inhibitors can provide pain relief without gastrointestinal toxicity in preclinical models when used over a long term. And unlike opioids, DAGL? inhibitors do not exhibit addictive properties.

"This could be a new route to treating long-term inflammation and pain without the side effects of toxicity and risk of addiction observed with current treatment options," Hsu said. "Generally, if we block inflammation, we also affect the immune response. But we're suggesting a different approach, one where we can stop inflammation without impacting the normal immune response."

Hsu's findings were published in the online edition of the journal Cell Chemical Biology.

According to Hsu, studies at UVA in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University demonstrate that DAGL? inhibitors are highly effective at reducing different pain states, including neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

In the new study, the Hsu lab uncovered a new role for DAGL? in dendritic cells, a specialized type of innate immune cell that not only controls inflammation, but can also activate our body's ability to fight infections by stimulating T cells, which produce an immune response.

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"We found that by blocking DAGL?, we can stop inflammation without affecting immunity," Hsu said. "This supports the idea that DAGL? is a viable target for long-term blockade of inflammation and pain without potentially compromising our immune system."

Hsu's research program is focused on using chemistry to find new ways to modulate the immune system, whether for fighting cancer, or, in this case, a better understanding of molecular pathways that can be targeted to reduce chronic inflammation and pain.

Source-Eurekalert