This video was selected as part of the scientific popularization competition “Highlight on the next generation 2020” organized by the QPRN. In this video, students from the Quebec Network of Junior Pain Investigators (QNJPI) present their research project.
Don’t we say that a cat has nine lives? But what good is it to have nine lives if it is to live in suffering. What if osteoarthritis was not an obstacle to this saying ?! This degenerative disease is characterized by a progressive destruction of the joints, located between the bones, which over time no longer play their role as shock absorbers. This causes difficulty in performing movements, even those that usually require little effort, such as bathing. Osteoarthritis is not treatable but if we could put an end to the constant pain caused by this disease, we would help our companions on all fours to live with this handicap. Our recent work on rodents has identified molecules involved in the pain process. These potential therapeutic targets, called neuropeptides, are released by neurons which undergo excessive stimulation due to the disappearance of the joint. Our goal is to clarify their roles in order to silence the genes responsible for the production of these pain-enhancing actors, using to gene therapy. Developing treatment for arthritis pain would be the accomplishment of nine busy lives.
