Blocking a pain receptor in humans could help improve lifespan and metabolic health, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley.
When investigators blocked the receptor TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1) in mice, they found that it extends their lifespan and gives them a more youthful metabolism, including an improved response to insulin that allows them to better deal with high blood sugar.
A compound found in chili peppers, capsaicin, is already known to activate this pain receptor, which is also known as the capsaicin receptor. When this receptor is constantly activated on a nerve cell, it results in death of the neuron, mimicking loss of TRPV1, which may explain why diets high in capsaicin have been linked to a lower incidence of diabetes and metabolic problems in people.
Previous research has also shown that mice lacking TRPV1 are protected against diet-induced obesity, suggesting that this receptor plays a role in metabolism.
The UC Berkeley scientists tested an antimigraine drug already on the market that mimics the effect of blocking TRPV1 in mice. The drug works by inhibiting a protein called CGRP that is triggered by TRPV1. In older mice, it restored metabolic health to that of younger mice. CGRP contributes to the development of Type 2 diabetes with its ability to block insulin release, resulting in increased blood glucose levels.
Investigators then genetically engineered mice to lack TRPV1 receptors and found that they lived, on average, nearly four months--about 14%--longer than normal mice. The TRPV1-deficient mice also showed signs of a youthful metabolism late in life and had low levels of CGRP. The findings were published in the May 22 issue of the journal Cell.
- read the press release
- see the study abstract
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