How do Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) work to relieve pain?
Ibuprofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs work in part by targeting a pair of enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2. Acetaminophen, unlike NSAIDs, doesn’t have a strong anti-inflammatory effect nor does it target COX-1 and COX-2. What was discovered about Acetaminophen? Through experiments in dogs, researchers detected what they think is two different types of COX-1. They named this variation of COX-1, COX-3. Unlike COX-1 and COX-2, COX-3 was strongly inhibited by acetaminophen. COX-3 was also sensitive to other drugs that have a similar action. What does this mean for pain research? Besides shedding light on the workings on such common drug, the discovery of COX-3 could advance research on the link between genetics, pain and fever. The scientists hope to study this enzyme in humans in the near future.
