Pain recovery in men may be linked to immune cells

Researchers report that certain monocytes producing the anti-inflammatory protein interleukin-10 were more common in males and linked to faster pain resolution in mice and people, and that testosterone appears to drive this effect. The newsletter also notes early trial results for an experimental drug targeting a p53 mutation and an analysis linking abortion restrictions to fewer obstetricians and gynecologists.

Researchers report immune differences that may help explain why men recover from injury-related pain faster than women. The study, published in Science Immunology, found that certain monocytes produce interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory protein that can shut down pain signals, and that male sex hormones such as testosterone drive production of these cells. The Reuters Health Rounds newsletter also highlights an early clinical trial of an experimental drug aimed at a p53 gene mutation and a separate analysis of how state abortion restrictions relate to obstetric care availability. Key findings: - Pain study: In mice, males had higher numbers of IL-10–producing monocytes and faster pain resolution after injury; in a study of 245 people recovering from injuries, men showed faster pain resolution and higher levels of monocytes and IL-10. Hormone experiments reported that adding testosterone to injured female mice raised IL-10 and sped recovery, while removing testes in male mice lowered IL-10 and delayed recovery. Researchers said slower pain resolution in women may raise the risk of chronic pain and that the next research step is to explore treatments that boost IL-10 production. - Experimental drug: An early-phase trial reported that rezatapopt, an investigational drug, corrected a Y220C mutation in the p53 gene and produced tumor shrinkage or disappearance in a subset of patients whose tumors carried that mutation but not certain other mutations; researchers are enrolling a larger trial at a dose reported as most successful. - Obstetric care analysis: A study of U.S. data from 2010–2021 found that laws restricting abortion (so-called TRAP laws) were associated with a reduction in obstetrician-gynecologists per 100,000 females of reproductive age, without offsetting increases in midwives or advanced practice clinicians; a related study reported higher maternal morbidity among fertility-care patients in states with such laws. Summary: The report links biological differences in immune response and sex hormones to faster pain resolution in men and highlights next research steps to test whether boosting IL-10 could prevent chronic pain. It also notes early clinical results for a drug targeting a p53 mutation and research showing reduced obstetrician-gynecologist supply in states with abortion restrictions. Further clinical work and larger trials were described as the planned next steps.