1
|
Collier L, Seah C, Hicks EM, Holtzheimer PE, Krystal JH, Girgenti MJ, Huckins LM, Johnston KJA. The impact of chronic pain on brain gene expression. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.20.24307630. [PMID: 38826319 PMCID: PMC11142271 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.20.24307630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Chronic pain affects one fifth of American adults, contributing significant public health burden. Chronic pain mechanisms can be further understood through investigating brain gene expression. Methods We tested differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in chronic pain, migraine, lifetime fentanyl and oxymorphone use, and with chronic pain genetic risk in four brain regions (dACC, DLPFC, MeA, BLA) and imputed cell type expression data from 304 postmortem donors. We compared findings across traits and with independent transcriptomics resources, and performed gene-set enrichment. Results We identified two chronic pain DEGs: B4GALT and VEGFB in bulk dACC. We found over 2000 (primarily BLA microglia) chronic pain cell type DEGs. Findings were enriched for mouse microglia pain genes, and for hypoxia and immune response. Cross-trait DEG overlap was minimal. Conclusions Chronic pain-associated gene expression is heterogeneous across cell type, largely distinct from that in pain-related traits, and shows BLA microglia are a key cell type.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Collier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York City, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Carina Seah
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY
| | - Emily M Hicks
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY
| | - Paul E Holtzheimer
- National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
| | - Matthew J Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
| | - Laura M Huckins
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Keira J A Johnston
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Johnston KJA, Cote AC, Hicks E, Johnson J, Huckins LM. Genetically Regulated Gene Expression in the Brain Associated With Chronic Pain: Relationships With Clinical Traits and Potential for Drug Repurposing. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:745-761. [PMID: 37678542 PMCID: PMC10924073 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a common, poorly understood condition. Genetic studies including genome-wide association studies have identified many relevant variants, which have yet to be translated into full understanding of chronic pain. Transcriptome-wide association studies using transcriptomic imputation methods such as S-PrediXcan can help bridge this genotype-phenotype gap. METHODS We carried out transcriptomic imputation using S-PrediXcan to identify genetically regulated gene expression associated with multisite chronic pain in 13 brain tissues and whole blood. Then, we imputed genetically regulated gene expression for over 31,000 Mount Sinai BioMe participants and performed a phenome-wide association study to investigate clinical relationships in chronic pain-associated gene expression changes. RESULTS We identified 95 experiment-wide significant gene-tissue associations (p < 7.97 × 10-7), including 36 unique genes and an additional 134 gene-tissue associations reaching within-tissue significance, including 53 additional unique genes. Of the 89 unique genes in total, 59 were novel for multisite chronic pain and 18 are established drug targets. Chronic pain genetically regulated gene expression for 10 unique genes was significantly associated with cardiac dysrhythmia, metabolic syndrome, disc disorders/dorsopathies, joint/ligament sprain, anemias, and neurologic disorder phecodes. Phenome-wide association study analyses adjusting for mean pain score showed that associations were not driven by mean pain score. CONCLUSIONS We carried out the largest transcriptomic imputation study of any chronic pain trait to date. Results highlight potential causal genes in chronic pain development and tissue and direction of effect. Several gene results were also drug targets. Phenome-wide association study results showed significant associations for phecodes including cardiac dysrhythmia and metabolic syndrome, thereby indicating potential shared mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keira J A Johnston
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Alanna C Cote
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genetics, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Emily Hicks
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genetics, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jessica Johnson
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura M Huckins
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Toikumo S, Vickers-Smith R, Jinwala Z, Xu H, Saini D, Hartwell EE, Pavicic M, Sullivan KA, Xu K, Jacobson DA, Gelernter J, Rentsch CT, Stahl E, Cheatle M, Zhou H, Waxman SG, Justice AC, Kember RL, Kranzler HR. A multi-ancestry genetic study of pain intensity in 598,339 veterans. Nat Med 2024; 30:1075-1084. [PMID: 38429522 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02839-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a common problem, with more than one-fifth of adult Americans reporting pain daily or on most days. It adversely affects the quality of life and imposes substantial personal and economic costs. Efforts to treat chronic pain using opioids had a central role in precipitating the opioid crisis. Despite an estimated heritability of 25-50%, the genetic architecture of chronic pain is not well-characterized, in part because studies have largely been limited to samples of European ancestry. To help address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of pain intensity in 598,339 participants in the Million Veteran Program, which identified 126 independent genetic loci, 69 of which are new. Pain intensity was genetically correlated with other pain phenotypes, level of substance use and substance use disorders, other psychiatric traits, education level and cognitive traits. Integration of the genome-wide association studies findings with functional genomics data shows enrichment for putatively causal genes (n = 142) and proteins (n = 14) expressed in brain tissues, specifically in GABAergic neurons. Drug repurposing analysis identified anticonvulsants, β-blockers and calcium-channel blockers, among other drug groups, as having potential analgesic effects. Our results provide insights into key molecular contributors to the experience of pain and highlight attractive drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvanus Toikumo
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Vickers-Smith
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Zeal Jinwala
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Divya Saini
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily E Hartwell
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mirko Pavicic
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Kyle A Sullivan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel A Jacobson
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher T Rentsch
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Eli Stahl
- Regeneron Genetics Center, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Martin Cheatle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hang Zhou
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen G Waxman
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amy C Justice
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel L Kember
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Barakat A, Munro G, Heegaard AM. Finding new analgesics: Computational pharmacology faces drug discovery challenges. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 222:116091. [PMID: 38412924 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite the worldwide prevalence and huge burden of pain, pain is an undertreated phenomenon. Currently used analgesics have several limitations regarding their efficacy and safety. The discovery of analgesics possessing a novel mechanism of action has faced multiple challenges, including a limited understanding of biological processes underpinning pain and analgesia and poor animal-to-human translation. Computational pharmacology is currently employed to face these challenges. In this review, we discuss the theory, methods, and applications of computational pharmacology in pain research. Computational pharmacology encompasses a wide variety of theoretical concepts and practical methodological approaches, with the overall aim of gaining biological insight through data acquisition and analysis. Data are acquired from patients or animal models with pain or analgesic treatment, at different levels of biological organization (molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral). Distinct methodological algorithms can then be used to analyze and integrate data. This helps to facilitate the identification of biological molecules and processes associated with pain phenotype, build quantitative models of pain signaling, and extract translatable features between humans and animals. However, computational pharmacology has several limitations, and its predictions can provide false positive and negative findings. Therefore, computational predictions are required to be validated experimentally before drawing solid conclusions. In this review, we discuss several case study examples of combining and integrating computational tools with experimental pain research tools to meet drug discovery challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Barakat
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | | | - Anne-Marie Heegaard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
O'Brien JA, Karrasch JF, Huang Y, Vine EE, Cunningham AL, Harman AN, Austin PJ. Nerve-myeloid cell interactions in persistent human pain: a reappraisal using updated cell subset classifications. Pain 2024; 165:753-771. [PMID: 37975868 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The past 20 years have seen a dramatic shift in our understanding of the role of the immune system in initiating and maintaining pain. Myeloid cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, and mast cells, are increasingly implicated in bidirectional interactions with nerve fibres in rodent pain models. However, our understanding of the human setting is still poor. High-dimensional functional analyses have substantially changed myeloid cell classifications, with recently described subsets such as epidermal dendritic cells and DC3s unveiling new insight into how myeloid cells interact with nerve fibres. However, it is unclear whether this new understanding has informed the study of human chronic pain. In this article, we perform a scoping review investigating neuroimmune interactions between myeloid cells and peripheral nerve fibres in human chronic pain conditions. We found 37 papers from multiple pain states addressing this aim in skin, cornea, peripheral nerve, endometrium, and tumour, with macrophages, Langerhans cells, and mast cells the most investigated. The directionality of results between studies was inconsistent, although the clearest pattern was an increase in macrophage frequency across conditions, phases, and tissues. Myeloid cell definitions were often outdated and lacked correspondence with the stated cell types of interest; overreliance on morphology and traditional structural markers gave limited insight into the functional characteristics of investigated cells. We therefore critically reappraise the existing literature considering contemporary myeloid cell biology and advocate for the application of established and emerging high-dimensional proteomic and transcriptomic single-cell technologies to clarify the role of specific neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jayden A O'Brien
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jackson F Karrasch
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Yun Huang
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Erica E Vine
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Anthony L Cunningham
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Andrew N Harman
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| | - Paul J Austin
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sofat N, Lambarth A. Can we achieve pain stratification in musculoskeletal conditions? Implications for clinical practice. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1362757. [PMID: 38524267 PMCID: PMC10958789 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1362757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few years there has been an increased appreciation that pain perception in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) has several mechanisms which include nociceptive, inflammatory, nociplastic and neuropathic components. Studies in specific patient groups have also demonstrated that the pain experienced by people with specific diagnoses can present with distinctive components over time. For example, the pain observed in rheumatoid arthritis has been widely accepted to be caused by the activation of nociceptors, potentiated by the release of inflammatory mediators, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes and cytokine networks in the joint environment. However, people with RA may also experience nociplastic and neuropathic pain components, particularly when treatments with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been implemented and are insufficient to control pain symptoms. In other RMDs, the concept of pain sensitisation or nociplastic pain in driving ongoing pain symptoms e.g. osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, is becoming increasingly recognised. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that pain has distinct modalities based on clinical, pathophysiological, imaging and genetic factors. The concept of pain stratification in RMD is explored and implications for future management are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Sofat
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Rheumatology, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Lambarth
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Rheumatology, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bonanno M, Papa D, Cerasa A, Maggio MG, Calabrò RS. Psycho-Neuroendocrinology in the Rehabilitation Field: Focus on the Complex Interplay between Stress and Pain. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:285. [PMID: 38399572 PMCID: PMC10889914 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress and chronic pain share neuro-anatomical, endocrinological, and biological features. However, stress prepares the body for challenging situations or mitigates tissue damage, while pain is an unpleasant sensation due to nociceptive receptor stimulation. When pain is chronic, it might lead to an allostatic overload in the body and brain due to the chronic dysregulation of the physiological systems that are normally involved in adapting to environmental challenges. Managing stress and chronic pain (CP) in neurorehabilitation presents a significant challenge for healthcare professionals and researchers, as there is no definitive and effective solution for these issues. Patients suffering from neurological disorders often complain of CP, which significantly reduces their quality of life. The aim of this narrative review is to examine the correlation between stress and pain and their potential negative impact on the rehabilitation process. Moreover, we described the most relevant interventions used to manage stress and pain in the neurological population. In conclusion, this review sheds light on the connection between chronic stress and chronic pain and their impact on the neurorehabilitation pathway. Our results emphasize the need for tailored rehabilitation protocols to effectively manage pain, improve treatment adherence, and ensure comprehensive patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Bonanno
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.B.); (R.S.C.)
| | - Davide Papa
- International College of Osteopathic Medicine, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Italy;
| | - Antonio Cerasa
- S’Anna Institute, 88900 Crotone, Italy;
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 98164 Messina, Italy
- Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Maggio
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (M.B.); (R.S.C.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Booker SQ, Merriwether EN, Powell-Roach K, Jackson S. From stepping stones to scaling mountains: overcoming racialized disparities in pain management. Pain Manag 2024; 14:5-12. [PMID: 38193345 PMCID: PMC10825727 DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2023-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Staja Q Booker
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida, College of Nursing, PO Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ericka N Merriwether
- Department of Physical Therapy, New York University, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, NY 10010, USA
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NY 10010, USA
| | - Keesha Powell-Roach
- Department of Community & Population Health, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, College of Nursing, College of Medicine, Genetics, Genomics & Informatics, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
| | - Simone Jackson
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida, College of Nursing, PO Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sasamoto N, Ngo L, Vitonis AF, Dillon ST, Sieberg CB, Missmer SA, Libermann TA, Terry KL. Plasma proteomic profiles of pain subtypes in adolescents and young adults with endometriosis. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:1509-1519. [PMID: 37196326 PMCID: PMC10391309 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the similarities and differences in the systemic proteomic profiles by endometriosis-associated pain subtypes among adolescents and young adults with endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Endometriosis-associated pain subtypes exhibited distinct plasma proteomic profiles. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Endometriosis patients, especially those diagnosed in adolescents and young adults, are often plagued by various pain symptoms. However, it is not clear what biological processes underlie this heterogeneity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data and plasma samples from 142 adolescent or young adult participants of the Women's Health Study: From Adolescence to Adulthood cohort with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We measured 1305 plasma protein levels by SomaScan. We classified self-reported endometriosis-associated pain into subtypes of dysmenorrhea, acyclic pelvic pain, life impacting pelvic pain, bladder pain, bowel pain, and widespread pain phenotype. We used logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for differentially expressed proteins, adjusting for age, BMI, fasting status, and hormone use at blood draw. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified enriched biological pathways. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Our study population consisted mainly of adolescents and young adults (mean age at blood draw = 18 years), with nearly all (97%) scored as rASRM stage I/II at laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis, which is a common clinical presentation of endometriosis diagnosed at a younger age. Pain subtypes exhibited distinct plasma proteomic profiles. Multiple cell movement pathways were downregulated in cases with severe dysmenorrhea and life impacting pelvic pain compared to those without (P < 7.5×10-15). Endometriosis cases with acyclic pelvic pain had upregulation of immune cell adhesion pathways (P < 9.0×10-9), while those with bladder pain had upregulation of immune cell migration (P < 3.7×10-8) and those with bowel pain had downregulation (P < 6.5×10-7) of the immune cell migration pathways compared to those without. Having a wide-spread pain phenotype involved downregulation of multiple immune pathways (P < 8.0×10-10). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Our study was limited by the lack of an independent validation cohort. We were also only able to explore any presence of a pain subtype and could not evaluate multiple combinations by pain subtypes. Further mechanistic studies are warranted to elucidate the differences in pathophysiology by endometriosis-pain subtype. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The observed variation in plasma protein profiles by pain subtypes suggests different underlying molecular mechanisms, highlighting the need for potential consideration of pain subtypes for effectively treating endometriosis patients presenting with various pain symptoms. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Department of Defense W81XWH1910318 and the 2017 Boston Center for Endometriosis Trainee Award. Financial support for establishment of and data collection within the A2A cohort were provided by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. N.S., A.F.V., S.A.M., and K.L.T. have received funding from the Marriott Family Foundation. C.B.S. is funded by an R35 MIRA Award from NIGMS (5R35GM142676). S.A.M. and K.L.T. are supported by NICHD R01HD094842. S.A.M. reports serving as an advisory board member for AbbVie and Roche, Field Chief Editor for Frontiers in Reproductive Health, personal fees from Abbott for roundtable participation; none of these are related to this study. Other authors report no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Sasamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston Center for Endometriosis, Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Long Ngo
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allison F Vitonis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston Center for Endometriosis, Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simon T Dillon
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine B Sieberg
- Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Pain & Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, & Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stacey A Missmer
- Boston Center for Endometriosis, Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Towia A Libermann
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn L Terry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston Center for Endometriosis, Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kim HW, Wang S, Davies AJ, Oh SB. The therapeutic potential of natural killer cells in neuropathic pain. Trends Neurosci 2023:S0166-2236(23)00133-9. [PMID: 37385878 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Novel disease-modifying treatments for neuropathic pain are urgently required. The cellular immune response to nerve injury represents a promising target for therapeutic development. Recently, the role of natural killer (NK) cells in both CNS and PNS disease has been the subject of growing interest. In this opinion article, we set out the case for NK cell-based intervention as a promising avenue for development in the management of neuropathic pain. We explore the potential cellular and molecular targets of NK cells in the PNS by contrasting with their reported functional roles in CNS diseases, and we suggest strategies for using the beneficial functions of NK cells and immune-based therapeutics in the context of neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyoung Woo Kim
- Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, School of Dentistry, and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Shuaiwei Wang
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander J Davies
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
| | - Seog Bae Oh
- Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, School of Dentistry, and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sisignano M, Geisslinger G. Rethinking the use of NSAIDs in early acute pain. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:193-195. [PMID: 36707386 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most widely used analgesics to treat inflammatory pain. Despite their efficacy, recent studies show that NSAID use in early acute pain can prolong pain and inflammation and delay their resolution. We suggest using analgesics without inflammation-related properties in early acute pain instead of NSAIDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sisignano
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Toikumo S, Vickers-Smith R, Jinwala Z, Xu H, Saini D, Hartwell E, Venegas MP, Sullivan KA, Xu K, Jacobson DA, Gelernter J, Rentsch CT, Stahl E, Cheatle M, Zhou H, Waxman SG, Justice AC, Kember RL, Kranzler HR. The genetic architecture of pain intensity in a sample of 598,339 U.S. veterans. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.09.23286958. [PMID: 36993749 PMCID: PMC10055465 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.09.23286958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a common problem, with more than one-fifth of adult Americans reporting pain daily or on most days. It adversely affects quality of life and imposes substantial personal and economic costs. Efforts to treat chronic pain using opioids played a central role in precipitating the opioid crisis. Despite an estimated heritability of 25-50%, the genetic architecture of chronic pain is not well characterized, in part because studies have largely been limited to samples of European ancestry. To help address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of pain intensity in 598,339 participants in the Million Veteran Program, which identified 125 independent genetic loci, 82 of which are novel. Pain intensity was genetically correlated with other pain phenotypes, level of substance use and substance use disorders, other psychiatric traits, education level, and cognitive traits. Integration of the GWAS findings with functional genomics data shows enrichment for putatively causal genes (n = 142) and proteins (n = 14) expressed in brain tissues, specifically in GABAergic neurons. Drug repurposing analysis identified anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers, among other drug groups, as having potential analgesic effects. Our results provide insights into key molecular contributors to the experience of pain and highlight attractive drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvanus Toikumo
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Vickers-Smith
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Kentucky College of Public Health; Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Zeal Jinwala
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Divya Saini
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily Hartwell
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mirko P. Venegas
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Kyle A. Sullivan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Joel Gelernter
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher T. Rentsch
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Eli Stahl
- Regeneron Genetics Center, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Martin Cheatle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hang Zhou
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen G. Waxman
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amy C. Justice
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel L. Kember
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VAMC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
The Role of Biomarkers in Understanding and Managing Pain: Nursing Contributions in the Precision Health Era. Pain Manag Nurs 2023; 24:1-3. [PMID: 36635134 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|
14
|
An introduction to the biennial review of pain. Pain 2022; 163:S1-S2. [DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|