Follow us on Google News (click on ☆)
In this scenario, the injured neurons seem to operate with dead batteries. Their internal power plants, the mitochondria, slow their activity. That is why a group of scientists attempted to determine if, by restoring these reserves, it was possible to reduce pain long-term, rather than simply masking it.
Illustration Image Pixabay
The results, published in Nature, indicate that restoring functional mitochondria in injured nerves can significantly alleviate pain. Tests conducted on human tissues and animal models revealed relief that could last almost two days. This observation is based on the idea that an adequate energy supply helps cells better cope with inflammatory phenomena that generate suffering.
The team highlighted a natural assistance mechanism between cells. Support cells, called satellite glial cells, wrap around sensory neurons. They can transmit operational mitochondria to them via tiny bridges, called nanotubes. When this exchange malfunctions, nerve fibers degenerate, which causes sensations of burning, tingling, or numbness.
The scientists evaluated two methods. The first seeks to stimulate this natural transfer between glial cells and neurons. The second is more direct: injecting healthy mitochondria, taken from donors, directly into clusters of nerve cells. This second approach provided a comparable soothing effect, but only when the implanted mitochondria were fully active.
The work sheds light on an important protein, MYO10, essential for the formation of the nanotubes enabling this energy sharing. Understanding this molecular mechanism could lead to targeted treatments. The next steps will involve precisely observing, through imaging, how these nanotubes transport their mitochondrial cargo within living tissues.
This new research path thus offers a novel angle for managing certain neuropathic pains. Instead of only trying to block the pain signal, it aims to correct the source of the disorder by restoring the neurons' energy metabolism.