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Chronic pain is a global public health problem, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we examine genome-wide DNA methylation, first in 50 identical twins discordant for heat pain sensitivity and then in 50 further unrelated individuals. Whole-blood DNA methylation was characterized at 5.2 million loci by MeDIP sequencing and assessed longitudinally to identify differentially methylated regions associated with high or low pain sensitivity (pain DMRs). Nine meta-analysis pain DMRs show robust evidence for association (false discovery rate 5%) with the strongest signal in the pain gene TRPA1 (P=1.2 × 10(-13)). Several pain DMRs show longitudinal stability consistent with susceptibility effects, have similar methylation levels in the brain and altered expression in the skin. Our approach identifies epigenetic changes in both novel and established candidate genes that provide molecular insights into pain and may generalize to other complex traits.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/ncomms3978

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature communications

Publication Date

01/2014

Volume

5

Keywords

MuTHER Consortium, Humans, Hyperalgesia, Calcium Channels, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Case-Control Studies, DNA Methylation, Gene Expression, Epigenesis, Genetic, Twins, Monozygotic, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Transient Receptor Potential Channels, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Genome-Wide Association Study, TRPA1 Cation Channel