New Discovery Links Protein to Chronic Pain

Summary: Researchers identified a new role for the PIEZO2 protein in mediating chronic pain hypersensitivity, suggesting a new target for pain relief. The study showed that mutations in PIEZO2 make pain receptors, or nociceptors, highly sensitive to mechanical stimuli, explaining persistent pain. This finding could lead to new analgesics that better address chronic pain by targeting PIEZO2 channels.