Mechanisms of Epigenetic Plasticity in Neuropathic Pain

神经病理性疼痛的表观遗传可塑性机制 我们项目的主要目标是确定创伤性神经损伤如何影响表观遗传调节 参与慢性疼痛的神经网络。神经病理性疼痛仍然是一个主要的临床问题和治疗挑战。 初级传入神经元基因表达和脊髓突触可塑性的持续变化 对慢性疼痛的发展至关重要。α2δ-1（由Cacna 2d 1基因编码）是一种 临床验证的神经性疼痛靶点，并介导加巴喷丁类化合物的治疗作用。 创伤性神经损伤和某些癌症化疗药物引起背根α2δ-1上调 神经节和脊髓，其通过直接相互作用增强对脊髓背角神经元的伤害性输入 NMDA受体。然而，我们几乎不知道神经损伤如何启动和维持高 α2δ-1的表达水平。组蛋白尾部赖氨酸残基的乙酰化是由多种蛋白酶动态调节的。 组蛋白脱乙酰酶（HDAC）。然而，负责α2δ-β-CD表达上调的特定HDAC亚型， 1和其他神经可塑性相关基因在神经性疼痛中尚未得到严格的研究或鉴定。到 为了解决这一关键的知识差距，我们将特别确定I类HDAC亚型在控制中的作用。 组蛋白乙酰化和α2δ-1和其他与突触可塑性有关的基因靶点的表达， 神经性疼痛模型。在我们初步数据的基础上，我们建议检验总体假设， 神经损伤和化疗减少HDAC 2占用，通过CK 2- 在DRG中Cacna 2d 1和其他神经可塑性相关基因的启动子处介导的磷酸化 HDAC 2通过抑制Cacna 2d 1转录和α2δ-1- 在脊髓水平依赖NMDA受体激活。我们将应用几个创新和活力 方法，包括无偏的全基因组表观遗传分析，转基因小鼠和突触记录， 在分子、细胞和行为水平上研究神经可塑性。我们的项目将产生新的基础 关于神经性疼痛的表观遗传基础的信息。我们项目的发现有望推动 我们对表观遗传可塑性的分子机制的了解，并指导新策略的发展 用于治疗神经性疼痛

Mechanisms of Epigenetic Plasticity in Neuropathic Pain The major objective of our project is to determine how traumatic nerve injury impacts epigenetic regulatory networks involved in chronic pain. Neuropathic pain remains a major clinical problem and therapeutic challenge. Both sustained changes in gene expression in primary afferent neurons and synaptic plasticity at the spinal cord level are essential for to the development of chronic pain. α2δ-1 (encoded by the Cacna2d1 gene) is a clinically validated neuropathic pain target and mediates the therapeutic actions of gabapentinoids. Traumatic nerve injury and certain cancer chemotherapeutic drugs cause α2δ-1 upregulation in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord, which augments nociceptive input to spinal dorsal horn neurons by directly interacting with NMDA receptors. Yet we know almost nothing about how nerve injury initiates and sustains the high expression level of α2δ-1. Acetylation of lysine residues in histone tails is dynamically regulated by various histone deacetylases (HDACs). However, the specific HDAC subtypes responsible for the upregulation of α2δ- 1 and other neuroplasticity-related genes in neuropathic pain have not been rigorously studied or identified. To address this key knowledge gap, we will specifically determine the role of class I HDAC subtypes in the control of histone acetylation and expression of α2δ-1 and other gene targets implicated in synaptic plasticity in two neuropathic pain models. On the basis of our preliminary data, we propose to test the overall hypothesis that nerve injury and chemotherapy diminish HDAC2 occupancy to induce histone hyperacetylation, via CK2- mediated phosphorylation, at the promoters of Cacna2d1 and other neuroplasticity-related genes in the DRG and that HDAC2 constitutively restrains chronic pain by repressing Cacna2d1 transcription and α2δ-1– dependent NMDA receptor activation at the spinal cord level. We will apply several innovative and vigorous approaches, including unbiased genome-wide epigenetic analyses, transgenic mice, and synaptic recordings to study neuroplasticity at molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels. Our project will generate fundamental new information about the epigenetic basis of neuropathic pain. Findings from our project are expected to advance our knowledge of molecular mechanisms of epigenetic plasticity and to guide the development of new strategies for treating neuropathic pain.