TY - JOUR
T1 - Time course of DNA methylation in pain conditions
T2 - from experimental models to humans
AU - Johansen, Lonnie Møller
AU - Gerra, Maria Carla
AU - Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
N1 - MCG and LAN are part of the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), which is supported by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF121).
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Background and Objective: Throughout the last decade, research has uncovered associations between pain and epigenetic alterations caused by environmental factors. Specifically, studies have demonstrated correlations between pain conditions and altered DNA methylation patterns. Thus, DNA methylation has been revealed as a possible modulator or contributor to pain conditions, providing a potential therapeutic target for treatment by DNA methylation modification. To develop such treatments, it is necessary to clarify a wide number of aspects on how DNA methylation affects pain perception; first and foremost, the temporal dynamics. The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on temporal dynamics of DNA methylation in response to pain, and to investigate if a timeframe can be established based on the data of currently published studies. Databases and data treatment: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Embase were searched comprehensively for studies of DNA methylation in neuropathic, inflammatory and alternative animal pain models, and in chronic pain patients including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, chronic postsurgical pain, chronic widespread pain, fibromyalgia and Crohn's disease. Results: We identified 34 articles highlighting variations in temporal dynamics of DNA methylation across species and between different types of pain. These studies represent a starting point to uncover new insights in the DNA methylation time course in pain. Conclusions: No timeframe can currently be made for the DNA methylation response to pain in any of the reviewed conditions, highlighting an important focus area for future research.
AB - Background and Objective: Throughout the last decade, research has uncovered associations between pain and epigenetic alterations caused by environmental factors. Specifically, studies have demonstrated correlations between pain conditions and altered DNA methylation patterns. Thus, DNA methylation has been revealed as a possible modulator or contributor to pain conditions, providing a potential therapeutic target for treatment by DNA methylation modification. To develop such treatments, it is necessary to clarify a wide number of aspects on how DNA methylation affects pain perception; first and foremost, the temporal dynamics. The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on temporal dynamics of DNA methylation in response to pain, and to investigate if a timeframe can be established based on the data of currently published studies. Databases and data treatment: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Embase were searched comprehensively for studies of DNA methylation in neuropathic, inflammatory and alternative animal pain models, and in chronic pain patients including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, chronic postsurgical pain, chronic widespread pain, fibromyalgia and Crohn's disease. Results: We identified 34 articles highlighting variations in temporal dynamics of DNA methylation across species and between different types of pain. These studies represent a starting point to uncover new insights in the DNA methylation time course in pain. Conclusions: No timeframe can currently be made for the DNA methylation response to pain in any of the reviewed conditions, highlighting an important focus area for future research.
KW - Chronic pain
KW - DNA methylation
KW - DNA methylation over time
KW - DNA methyltransferases
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Pain
KW - temporal dynamics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096796108&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ejp.1674
DO - 10.1002/ejp.1674
M3 - Review article
SN - 1090-3801
VL - 25
SP - 296
EP - 312
JO - European Journal of Pain
JF - European Journal of Pain
IS - 2
ER -