Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Fighting zombies was the premise of one of the most successful television shows of all time in The Walking Dead, and that same idea may hold the key to improving the lives of many with chronic back pain. According to a new study, targeting certain cells in the spine called “zombie cells” could help to reduce issues like inflammation, pain and tissue damage, in turn treating or preventing chronic back issues. These cells certainly aren’t infected like the walkers in The Walking Dead, but they derive the nickname from the fact that they don’t behave like a normal cell. Instead of dying off like normal cells, these aging cells end up lingering and building up in spinal discs after a disc is damaged. This accumulation of cells can end up being a driving factor behind localized inflammation, which of course can lead to discomfort and additional damage to nearby structures.

Killing Zombie Cells

A team of researchers recently found that two drugs administered locally to mice – o-Vanillin, a natural compound, and RG-7112, an FDA-approved cancer medication – proved effective at removing these zombie cells from spinal discs, in turn reducing inflammation and associated symptoms.

“We were surprised that an oral treatment could reach the spinal discs, which are hard to access and present a major hurdle in treating back pain,” said senior author Lisbet Haglund, a Professor in McGill’s Department of Surgery and Co-director of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the Montreal General Hospital (MUHC). “The big question now is whether these drugs can have the same effect in humans.”

The team is hopeful additional research will show that the results are similar when tested on human populations.

For help overcoming whatever back issue you’re facing, pick up the phone and connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute by calling (651) 430-3800.

Comments are closed.