Yale University researchers discovered a protein from the venom of the Peruvian green velvet tarantula that weakens pain-transmitting neurons. The discovery promises new treatment for chronic pain and inflammation.
For the study, the researchers examined more than 100 spider toxins from numerous tarantula species to find one that blocked TRPA1, an ion channel present on pain-sensing neurons. The ion channel is related to neuropathic and inflammation pain.
They created a library of different versions of the tarantula toxin to identify the one halts TRPA1 but does not affect the activity of other channels on the surface of neurons.
"The beauty of the system is we can also screen engineered toxins not found in nature, and identify higher-potency and more specific molecular variants that lack deleterious effects on essential nerve functions,'' Nitabach said.
The researchers said that the spider toxins were tested only on one of a dozen suspected human pain channels.
"The likelihood is that within the vast diversity of spider toxins we will find others that are active against other channels important for pain," Michael Nitabach, associate professor of cellular and molecular physiology and of genetics, and senior author of the paper said in a statement.
Nitabach and colleagues now plan to test thousands of similar toxins for similar biological activity against pain-sensing neurons.
The finding is published in the journal Current Biology.
Researchers are now turning towards venomous creatures to find potential and safer painkillers. Recently, France's Institute of Pharmocologie Moleculaire and Cellulaire researchers found that proteins in the venom of the black mamba snake have morphine like pan reducing properties.
