Chronic pain: emerging evidence for the involvement of epigenetics.
Epigenetic processes, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, have been associated with many neural functions including synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Here, we critically examine emerging evidence linking epigenetic mechanisms to the development or maintenance of chronic pain states. Although in its infancy, research in this area potentially unifies several pathophysiological processes underpinning abnormal pain processing and opens up a different avenue for the development of novel analgesics.
King's College London, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London SE11UL, UK. franziska.denk@kcl.ac.uk
Franziska
F
Denk
Stephen B
SB
McMahon
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological