Elucidation of the Mechanism of Combination Effects of Neuropathic Pain Therapeutics: Toward Enhancing the Effects of Gabapentinoids

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16437
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55050:Anesthesiology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Hiroki Tadanao 群馬大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (90736753)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 神経障害性疼痛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neuropathic pain is treated with neuropathic pain medications such as gabapentinoids and opioids such as morphine, but the analgesic effect is limited and side effects are common. Initially, we investigated whether the analgesic effect of neuropathic pain medications could be enhanced by their concomitant use, but this did not produce any results. Therefore, experiments were conducted to elucidate the mechanism by which the analgesic effect of morphine is attenuated in neuropathic pain. In this study, we demonstrated that functional changes in the spinal dorsal horn interneuron GABAA receptors, which are part of the descending pain modulation system, contribute to the attenuated analgesic effect.

Free Research Field

神経障害性疼痛

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

神経障害性疼痛に対する新規薬剤の開発が限定的な中、現状使用できる薬剤の効果を高める、副作用の出現を減らすことは臨床的意義が非常に大きい。本研究によってオピオイドの鎮痛作用減弱メカニズムの一つを明らかにできた。将来的に鎮痛効果を高める併用薬剤等を検討することで、神経障害性疼痛や治療薬の副作用の軽減に寄与できると考えられる。