A new study in the Journal of Pain Research, led by Geoffroy Laumet at Michigan State University, reports that blocking the immune signaling molecule TNF-α after a surgical incision can prolong pain in mice. The team used a mouse model and inhibited TNF-α by three different methods, one of which was Etanercept, an FDA-approved drug used in humans.
Contrary to expectations, animals with TNF-α activity blocked experienced pain for a much longer period. Laumet says blocking TNF-α seemed to prevent the body from turning off pain through its normal processes. The effect was consistent across repeated experiments by multiple lab members and with several inhibition techniques, which strengthens the finding.
The authors point out that about 90% of people recover from post-surgical pain while roughly 10% develop chronic postsurgical pain. More than 40 million Americans have surgery each year, and the study estimates roughly 4 million may develop long-lasting pain annually. The team suggests that the body’s ability to produce TNF-α after an incision could be a critical factor in whether pain resolves.
They caution that the results do not mean stopping all anti-inflammatory treatment. Many molecules control inflammation, pain and healing, and some situations—such as reducing joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis—still benefit from lowering inflammation. Laumet expresses optimism that future treatments might block pain while allowing healing inflammation to continue.
Difficult words
- TNF-α — a protein involved in immune signaling
- inhibit — to stop or reduce an actioninhibited
- prolong — to make something last for longer
- incision — a cut made during a surgery
- inflammation — the body's response that causes swelling
- chronic — continuing for a long time or persistent
- resolve — to end or be cured over timeresolves
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might blocking an immune signaling molecule prolong pain after surgery? Give reasons based on the article.
- How could the finding that TNF-α helps pain resolve affect decisions about using anti-inflammatory drugs after surgery?
- What further evidence or experiments would you want to see before changing clinical practice about post-surgical inflammation?
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