Chilli compound targets pain genes

The compound which gives chillies their kick is being used in the fight against chronic pain.

Researchers at Aberdeen University have identified how genes are “turned on” to make humans feel pain.

Capsaicin, the compound in chillies which gives them their kick, can also turn on the switch.

It is believed the study could herald the development of new painkilling drugs.

The team looked at the mechanics of the pain gene known as substance-P which was first associated with chronic inflammatory pain more than 30 years ago.

Genes need “switches”, known as promoters and enhancers, to turn them on in the right place, at the right time and at the right level.

One of the major findings of the study was that the switches do not act in isolation and need other switches to “speak to” in order to activate the gene.

Chronic inflammatory pain in the form of arthritis and other conditions affects thousands of people in the UK each year and in many cases is untreatable.

Capsaicin has previously been used as treatment for chronic pain.

The scientists said understanding the genetic mechanisms that allow capsaicin to induce inflammatory pain will lead to a better understanding of the pain process.