A joint research group of Okayama University's specially appointed assistant professor Yuri Kato and associate professor Takaaki Miyaji has identified for the first time in the world the mechanism by which the osteoporosis drug clodronic acid improves neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, and chronic inflammation. rice field.This achievement is a result of joint research with Matsumoto Dental University, Kurume University, Tohoku University, Kyushu University, Tokyo University of Agriculture, and Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.
Although the number of people suffering from chronic pain is estimated to be 20 to 25% of the world population, there are no effective analgesics with few side effects.Bisphosphonates (first generation), one of the therapeutic agents for osteoporosis, have been clinically reported to have multiple analgesic effects in patients with bone diseases, but the mechanism of action has long been unknown.
Known as an energy source, ATP also acts as a neurotransmitter involved in pain.The vesicle-type nucleotide transporter (VNUT) is the transporter that carries this ATP into the secretory vesicles.The research group found that clodronic acid, a bisphosphonate preparation, selectively and reversibly inhibits VNUT at very low concentrations, blocking ATP release from nerve cells.
Clodronic acid is more analgesic than pregabalin, the first-line drug for neuropathic pain, and has no side effects such as drowsiness.In addition, by blocking the secretion of ATP from immune cells, the amount of inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammatory diseases was reduced, and an anti-inflammatory effect was observed.Furthermore, it was more potent than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are anti-inflammatory drugs, and showed the same anti-inflammatory effect as general steroid preparations.
Clodronic acid has already been approved as a treatment for osteoporosis in Europe and the United States, has been proven to be safe for humans, and is expected to have a short development period and low costs.It is expected to be a completely new type of analgesic / anti-inflammatory drug targeting transporters.
