New Approach to Treating Chronic Low Back Pain Targets Senescent Cells

A preclinical study led by McGill University researchers has investigated a new method for treating chronic low back pain by targeting senescent, or “zombie,” cells that accumulate in spinal discs with age or injury. Chronic low back pain affects millions globally, and current treatments focus on symptom management through painkillers or surgery, rather than addressing the underlying cause.

The research, conducted at the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain at the Montreal General Hospital, tested two drugs: o-Vanillin, a natural compound with anti-inflammatory properties, and RG-7112, an FDA-approved cancer drug. The drugs were administered orally to mice, both separately and in combination. The study found that both drugs could clear senescent cells from the spine, reduce pain and inflammation, and slow or even reverse spinal disc damage after eight weeks of treatment. The combination of the two drugs produced the most significant results.

Senescent cells do not die off like normal cells; instead, they linger and release inflammatory and degenerative factors, contributing to age-related diseases such as low back pain. The study showed that removing these cells reduced pain, improved vertebral bone quality, and lowered degeneration scores in the intervertebral discs. “Our findings are exciting because it suggests we might be able to treat back pain in a completely new way, by removing the cells driving the problem, not just masking the pain,” said Lisbet Haglund, senior author of the paper published in Science Advances.

O-Vanillin was included in the study almost by chance, and the results provided some of the first evidence that it can clear senescent cells. The researchers plan to further improve o-Vanillin’s structure and believe these drugs may have potential for treating other age-related diseases linked to cell senescence, such as arthritis or osteoporosis.