SLC45A4 and pain link discovered

A genetic study ties a neuronal transporter to pain intensity with mouse data showing a role in nociception.

SLC45A4 Reveals Neuronal Polyamine Transporter Linked to Pain

Researchers used the UK Biobank to study pain and found a significant link between pain intensity and variants near the SLC45A4 gene. They show that SLC45A4 acts as a plasma membrane transporter for polyamines and that a regulatory domain helps recognize these molecules. The study also provides a cryo EM view of how the transporter works at the molecular level, pointing to a mechanism for how polyamines influence nerve signals. In mice, deleting Slc45a4 leaves mechanosensation intact but reduces sensitivity to heat and chemical triggers of pain, suggesting a specific role in nociceptive pathways and heat related pain processing.

The work shows a clear path from a large data signal to a concrete cellular function. It strengthens the case for polyamine transport as a part of how pain signals are set in the nervous system. Yet translating this into a therapy will require care because polyamines regulate many cellular processes and a drug targeting this transporter could have wider effects. The study also relies on a predominantly European data set and animal experiments, so confirmation in diverse human populations will be important. Ethical oversight and future safety checks will matter as the field moves toward clinical tests.

Highlights

The map from gene to treatment is long but this study marks an important waypoint