Using the DNA methylation profile of the stress driver geneFKBP5for chronic pain diagnosis

Abstract

AbstractEpigenetic changes can bring insight into gene regulatory mechanisms associated with disease pathogenicity, including chronicity and increased vulnerability. To date, we are yet to identify genes sensitive to epigenetic regulation that contribute to the maintenance of chronic pain and with an epigenetic landscape indicative of the susceptibility to persistent pain. Such genes would provide a novel opportunity for better pain management, as their epigenetic profile could be targeted for the treatment of chronic pain or used as an indication of vulnerability for prevention strategies. Here, we investigated the epigenetic profile of the geneFKBP5for this potential, using targeted bisulphite sequencing in rodent pre-clinical models of chronic and latent hypersensitive states. TheFKBP5promoter DNA methylation (DNAm) signature in the CNS was significantly different between models of persistent pain and there was a significant correlation between CNS and peripheral bloodFKBP5DNAm, indicating that further exploration ofFKBP5promoter DNAm as a biomarker of chronic pain pathogenic origin is warranted. We also found that maternal separation, which promotes the persistency of inflammatory pain in adulthood, was accompanied by long-lasting reduction inFKBP5DNAm, suggesting thatFKPB5DNAm profile may indicate the increased vulnerability to chronic pain in individuals exposed to trauma in early life. Overall, our data demonstrate that theFKBP5promoter DNAm landscape brings novel insight into the differing pathogenic origins of chronic pain, may be able to diagnose and stratify patients, and predict the susceptibility to chronic pain.