Epigenetic control of hypersensitivity in chronic inflammatory pain by the de novo DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a2.

Abstract

Chronic pain is a pathological manifestation of neuronal plasticity supported by altered gene transcription in spinal cord neurons that results in long-lasting hypersensitivity. Recently, the concept that epigenetic regulators might be important in pathological pain has emerged, but a clear understanding of the molecular players involved in the process is still lacking. In this study, we linked Dnmt3a2, a synaptic activity-regulated de novo DNA methyltransferase, to chronic inflammatory pain. We observed that Dnmt3a2 levels are increased in the spinal cord of adult mice following plantar injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant, an in vivo model of chronic inflammatory pain. In vivo knockdown of Dnmt3a2 expression in dorsal horn neurons blunted the induction of genes triggered by Complete Freund's Adjuvant injection. Among the genes whose transcription was found to be influenced by Dnmt3a2 expression in the spinal cord is Ptgs2, encoding for Cox-2, a prime mediator of pain processing. Lowering the levels of Dnmt3a2 prevented the establishment of long-lasting inflammatory hypersensitivity. These results identify Dnmt3a2 as an important epigenetic regulator needed for the establishment of central sensitization. Targeting expression or function of Dnmt3a2 may be suitable for the treatment of chronic pain.

• Authors: Ana Mm Oliveira, Christian Litke, Eszter Paldy, Anna M Hagenston, Jianning Lu, Rohini Kuner, Hilmar Bading, Daniela Mauceri
• Journal: Molecular pain (Mol Pain) 2019 Jan-Dec Vol. 15 Pg. 1744806919827469 ISSN: 1744-8069 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30638145 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Escherichia coli Proteins
• GusB protein, E coli
• Membrane Proteins
• Membrane Transport Proteins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
• Potassium Chloride
• Freund's Adjuvant
• Cyclooxygenase 1
• Ptgs1 protein, mouse
• DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases
• DNA Methyltransferase 3A
• Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Animals
• Capsaicin (pharmacology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Chronic Pain (chemically induced, complications, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 1 (metabolism)
• DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases (genetics, metabolism)
• DNA Methyltransferase 3A
• Disease Models, Animal
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Escherichia coli Proteins (metabolism)
• Freund's Adjuvant (toxicity)
• Functional Laterality
• Hyperalgesia (metabolism)
• Inflammation (complications)
• Male
• Membrane Proteins (metabolism)
• Membrane Transport Proteins (metabolism)
• Pain Measurement
• Phosphopyruvate Hydratase (metabolism)
• Posterior Horn Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Potassium Chloride (pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos (metabolism)
• Spinal Cord (pathology)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects, physiology)