Innovative treatments may transform the management of lower back pain by addressing the root causes associated with inflammatory “zombie” cells. Recent research conducted using mice.

A group of scientists, led by researchers from McGill University in Canada, found that a combination of two medications, O-Vanillin and RG-7112, effectively eliminates zombie cells from mouse spinal tissues, alleviating pain and inflammation symptoms.

“Our results are promising because they indicate that by eliminating cells that not only obscure pain but also contribute to issues, we can approach lower back pain treatment in a novel manner,” stated the senior author, Professor Lisbet Haglund from McGill’s Ministry of Surgery.

Zombie cells, also referred to as senescent cells, do not function like typical cells. Rather than undergoing division and death to make way for new cells, they persist in the body.

As we age, these zombie cells can build up, leading to inflammation, pain, and spinal damage.

For the hundreds of millions of adults globally suffering from back pain, the impact of zombie cells is often masked and inadequately addressed by current medications.

This new treatment, however, aims to alleviate back pain by targeting and eliminating these lingering zombie cells, thereby addressing the underlying issues.

The McGill research team discovered this promising new treatment while working with mice genetically engineered to develop spinal injuries and lower back pain over seven months.

The researchers administered varying doses of O-Vanillin and RG-7112 to these mice. Some received only one of the drugs, while others received a combination of both.

RG-7112 is a medication already established to remove zombie cells in various contexts, though it hasn’t been applied to lower back pain treatment until now.

O-Vanillin, a natural compound sourced from turmeric, is recognized for its anti-inflammatory benefits, but had not been previously tested against zombie cells.

After 8 weeks of treatment, mice receiving both drugs at higher doses exhibited the lowest levels of zombie cells, inflammation, and pain.

Those treated with a single drug showed some improvement, but the results were not as significant as those achieved with the combination therapy.

“The pressing question now is whether these medications can produce the same effects in human subjects,” Haglund remarked.

read more: