title: Selective repression of gene expression in neuropathic pain by the neuron-restrictive silencing factor/repressor element-1 silencing transcription (NRSF/REST).
abstract: Neuropathic pain often develops following nerve injury as a result of maladaptive changes that occur in the injured nerve and along the nociceptive pathways of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms likely account for these changes; however, the exact nature of these mechanisms remain largely unknown. A growing number of studies suggest that alteration in gene expression is an important step in the progression from acute to chronic pain states and epigenetic regulation has been proposed to drive this change in gene expression. In this review, we discuss recent evidence that the DNA-binding protein neuron-restrictive silencing factor/repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (NRSF/REST) is an important component in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain through its role as a transcriptional regulator for a select subset of genes that it normally represses during development.
authors.affiliation: Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, United States; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Ave, NY, NY 10065, United States.
authors.forename: Dianna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, United States.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, United States.
authors.forename: Lilah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fones
authors.affiliation: Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, United States; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Ave, NY, NY 10065, United States. Electronic address: joc2042@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cave
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
keywords: Epigenetics; MeCP2; NRSF/REST; Neuropathic pain