A groundbreaking study led by a University of Leeds scientist has unveiled new insights into how the body manages pain, offering a potential path toward treating long-term pain without relying on addictive opioids.

Professor Nikita Gamper, from the School of Biomedical Sciences at Leeds, and his research team discovered that the human body can generate its own form of natural “sleeping pills” that resemble benzodiazepines. These substances can reduce signals from specific nerves, influencing how intensely pain is felt.

The research, which builds upon earlier studies conducted by Professor Gamper and Professor Xiaona Du of Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang, China, could mark a turning point in pain management. With new funding secured for the coming year, the team plans to continue exploring how this biological process could lead to safer, more effective treatments for people suffering from chronic pain.

A New Path Beyond Opioids
Professor Gamper said: “We understand quite a bit about how a person ends up feeling pain, but we can’t do much about it. Despite all the amazing discoveries and textbooks written, opioids are still the gold standard.

“Nothing substantially better than opioids has been produced. If you suffer from pain, you will likely end up with either ibuprofen, which is OK for mild pain, but absolutely does nothing for very strong pain or neuropathic pain; or opioids which are very efficacious but dangerous.”

Benzodiazepines (‘benzos’) are a type of depressant medication commonly prescribed to help with sleep problems, anxiety, and seizures. In their research, Professor Nikita Gamper, Professor Xiaona Du, and Dr. Temugin Berta from the University of Cincinnati discovered that certain cells connected to human nerves, located within structures known as spinal ganglia, can release a peptide that operates in a similar way to benzos.

Because this process takes place only within the peripheral nervous system, it does not cause the entire nervous system to “go to sleep.” As a result, these naturally produced peptides could offer pain relief without the dangerous side effects or risk of addiction associated with opioid drugs.

The study’s results show that nerves are capable of “tuning out” pain signals or limiting how much pain the brain perceives, revealing a potential new mechanism for controlling discomfort at its source.