gp130's sensitive side

Medical University Innsbruck researchers suggest that inhibiting the gp130 pathway in peripheral sensory nerve cells could reduce certain types of pain.¹ Coupled with previous findings that activation of the gp130 pathway on immune cells can lead to cancer and inflammation, the new research suggests that hitting the target on both types of cells could treat those diseases and reduce the pain associated with them.

Many cytokines activate immune cells by activating the IL-6 signal transducer (IL-6ST; gp130; CD130) on the cell surface.² When the pathway works properly, the activated immune cells are able to ward off infections. But when it goes awry, the result can be inflammatory conditions or cancer...