Gene mutations make an Italian family unaware of pain

You can call them "real-life X-Men".

If you've ever hit the side of a cupboard or table while groping for food at night, you'll think it's great if you can "turn off" the pain, even for a moment. But unlike you and others, the Marsili family in Italy is not afraid of swollen toes, burns, or even fractures. They really do not feel pain, or at least they do not feel the pain like the rest of the world. Scientists, after years of intense research, finally found the answer.

The members of the Marsili family.(photo: The Independent).

According to BGR, the Marsili family - including grandmother, two daughters and three grandchildren - have lived in this condition for decades. For us it is like a gift given by gods in fairy tales, but to them it is more like a curse. Family members have repeatedly suffered serious injuries, including fractures, which they did not even recognize. After many trials, researchers found the cause of their genes.

According to Brain magazine, researchers conducted many thorough tests to find the answer. Their sensitivity to cold and hot sensation is also tested (though they do not feel much), and they seem to be immune to most physical pain. The researchers decided to dig deeper into the Marsili family genome to find clues.

Finally, the researchers discovered a ZFHX2 , which acts as a signal of pain that is "translated" by nerves and transmitted to the brain, through other genes. This mutation appears in every member of the family.

To authenticate, scientists experimented on genetically modified mice similar to members of the Marsili family. As a result, these mice did not seem to sense the hot environment, indicating that the modified gene affected them, as well as the three generations of the Marsili family.

This study is not only a solution to mystery over the years, but it can also lead to breakthroughs in controlling those for patients. Further research on how genes affect pain reception can bring new drugs with the same effect, thereby improving the quality of life of many patients.