Geneticists Identify Chronic Pain Gene

Researchers have identified a gene linked to susceptibility and response to chronic pain caused by nerve injury.

Investigators at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) used advanced genomic techniques to pinpoint a 155 gene segment of chromosome 15 as the source of the gene responsible for encoding the pain-related protein stargazin. They then used bioinformatics and whole-genome microarray expression analysis to narrow the list of candidates and ultimately to pinpoint the gene Cacng2 as the likely candidate. These findings were published in the August 5, 2010, issue of the journal Genome Research.

Confirmation of the role of Cacng2 was obtained by studying the behavior of "stargazer mice,” a Cacng2 hypomorphic mutant. These mice provided electrophysiological and behavioral evidence for the gene's functional role in pain processing. Finally, the investigators showed that human CACNG2 polymorphisms were associated with chronic pain in a cohort of cancer patients who underwent breast surgery.

"The immediate significance is the mere awareness that differences in pain perception may have a genetic predisposition,” said senior author Dr. Ariel Darvasi, professor of genetics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Our discovery may provide insights for treating chronic pain through previously unthought-of mechanisms.”

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Hebrew University of Jerusalem