title: Noncoding RNAs: key molecules in understanding and treating pain.
abstract: Although noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) were initially considered to be transcriptional byproducts, recent technological advances have led to a steady increase in our understanding of their importance in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis. In keeping with these developments, pain research is also experiencing rapid growth in the investigation of links between ncRNAs and pathological pain. Although the initial focus was on analyzing expression and dysregulation of candidate miRNAs, elucidation of other ncRNAs and ncRNA-mediated functional mechanisms in pain modulation has just commenced. Here we review the major ncRNA literature available to date with respect to pain modulation and discuss tools and opportunities available for testing the impact of other types of ncRNA on pain.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit with European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: kiran.bali@pharma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Kiran Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit with European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: rohini.kuner@pharma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: chronic pain; lncRNA; miRNA; ncRNA; pain mechanisms