New research advances the treatment of chronic pain

Based on their previous findings, scientists from the Immunopharmacology and Interactions Group of the Department of Infection and Immunity of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), in cooperation with the RTI International Drug Discovery Center (RTI), a non-profit research organization, have already Proven conolidine, which interacts with the newly discovered opioid receptor ACKR3/CXCR7, which regulates opioid peptides naturally produced in the brain

Opioid peptides are small proteins that interact with four classic receptors ("molecular switches") in the brain to regulate and relieve pain and mood, including euphoria, anxiety, stress and depression

In the current study, researchers screened more than 240 receptors that can be activated or inhibited by conolidine and determined that ACKR3 is the most sensitive target of conolidine, which is an alkaloid with analgesic properties

"We confirmed that conolidine binds to the newly discovered opioid receptor ACKR3, but has no affinity for the other four classic opioid receptors

While describing the interaction between conolidine and ACKR3, the two teams took it a step further

"The discovery of ACKR3 as a target of conolidine further emphasizes the role of this newly discovered receptor in regulating the opioid system, and therefore, in regulating our perception of pain," said Dr.

"Our findings may also mean that conolidine and its potential synthetic analogues may bring new hope for the treatment of chronic pain and depression, especially considering the reported harmful side effects caused by conolidine—namely addiction.

Dr.

Professor Markus Ollert, Director of the Department of Infection and Immunology of LIH, said: “We once again build on our excellent basic research results and turn them into applications, which may actually improve the clinical results of patients

# # #