Researchers in the Hong Lab, in collaboration with the Lee Lab (Department of Biochemistry) and the Ji Lab (Department of Anesthesiology), have recently published exciting new findings in Nature Communications on the development of a novel non-opioid pain medication. This research addresses the critical need for safer and more effective pain management strategies in the face of the ongoing opioid crisis. The team focused on the equilibrative nucleoside transporter subtype 1 (ENT1), a protein that regulates levels of adenosine, a neurotransmitter known to alleviate pain. By designing a modified ENT1 inhibitor based on X-ray crystallography studies, they successfully enhanced adenosine signaling and achieved significant pain relief in animal models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. This new ENT1 inhibitor demonstrated excellent efficacy and improved safety compared to the existing ENT1 inhibitor dilazep. This breakthrough highlights the potential of ENT1 as a promising therapeutic target for pain relief and offers a new avenue for developing non-addictive pain medications. Read the full article here.
