A drug already used to treat osteoporosis prevented spinal disc damage in a new study, raising hopes for new treatments for back pain. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that a bisphosphonate stopped minerals from accumulating in the spine, blocking the chain of events that causes the spine's natural shock absorbers to harden and deteriorate.
How spinal discs break down
Genetic changes can set off a chain reaction that causes the soft discs between the bones of the spine to harden and lose their ability to cushion the vertebrae. In the study, zebrafish with a faulty collagen-related gene developed mineral buildup and spinal fusion similar to human disc disease.
The researchers tested several approaches to slow the damage. A bisphosphonate, a type of bone-protecting medication already approved for osteoporosis, prevented minerals from accumulating in the spine. Spinal fusion was also reduced when the fish received less food or were treated with drugs that suppressed fat metabolism.
Hope for back pain treatments
The findings point to several possible paths for future treatments, the researchers said. Because bisphosphonates are already widely used and well understood in patients, they could move into clinical testing for spinal conditions more quickly than a completely new drug.
"The discovery points to several exciting possibilities for future back pain treatments," the team said in a summary of the work. The study, published in early August, was reported by ScienceDaily.
Why zebrafish matter
Zebrafish share many genes with humans, including the collagen genes involved in this form of spinal disease. Their transparent bodies also let researchers watch mineral buildup and disc changes in real time, making them a practical model for studying conditions that take years to develop in people.
The next step is to test whether the same mechanisms hold in mammals and eventually in humans. If they do, existing osteoporosis drugs could find a second use in protecting the spine, potentially giving millions of people with back problems a treatment option that is already on the market.