Pain Research

Researchers pinpoint enzyme that could enable safer pain relief

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Scientists at Tulane University and collaborating institutions have found that neurons release an enzyme called vertebrate lonesome kinase (VLK) outside cells to help switch on pain signals after injury. Removing VLK from pain-sensing neurons in mice sharply reduced post-surgical pain–like responses without impairing normal movement or basic sensation, according to a study in Science, suggesting a potential new route to more targeted pain treatments.