Female Hormones Boost Immune Cells to Produce Pain-Relieving Enkephalin in Mice: A Potential Breakthrough for Chronic Pain in Women

Research conducted on mice reveals that female hormones stimulate immune cells to produce enkephalin, a natural pain reliever. Scientists at the University of California have discovered that regulatory T cells (T-reg), crucial for immune system regulation, can inhibit pain by producing enkephalin, a peptide with opioid-like analgesic properties. The study, published in Science, indicates that estrogen and progesterone stimulate T-reg cells in the spinal cord to generate enkephalin. When researchers removed T-reg cells from the spinal cord of female mice, they observed increased pain sensitivity, while males showed no significant changes, suggesting a sex-specific pain regulation mechanism. This discovery could pave the way for new treatments targeting chronic pain in women, particularly those experiencing reduced estrogen and progesterone production, such as postmenopausal women. Researchers are investigating the possibility of genetically modifying T-reg cells to consistently produce enkephalin, potentially revolutionizing chronic pain treatment. Allan Basbaum, a study author, highlighted the therapeutic potential of engineering T-regs to release enkephalin in a controlled manner. This approach could significantly improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers who do not respond well to current treatments. This finding represents a significant advancement in understanding the interplay between the immune system and pain perception, potentially transforming medical strategies for pain management.