Scientists have identified a channel present in many pain detecting sensory neurons that acts as a ‘brake’, limiting spontaneous pain. It is hoped that the new research, published today [22 January] in The Journal of Neuroscience, will ultimately contribute to new pain relief treatments.Dr Cristian Acosta, the first author on the paper and now working at the Institute of Histology and Embriology of Mendoza in Argentina, said “Given the role of TREK2 in protecting against spontaneous pain, it is important to advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms controlling its expression and trafficking in these C-fiber nociceptors. We hope that this research will enable development of methods of enhancing the actions of TREK2 that could potentially some years hence provide relief for sufferers of ongoing spontaneous burning pain.”http://www.bristol.ac.uk/