Scientists Discover Gene For Pain

In a new breakthrough, scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified a gene which has an ability to sense pain. As reported in the findings published in the journal Nature Genetics, this new discovery might open up new ways for the development of pain relief medications. The researchers also indicate that the presence of a mutant variety of this gene will make that individual unable to feel pain from birth, a rare genetic condition known as Congenital insensitivity to pain, or CIP. Such people might not be able to distinguish between heat and cold but can feel the touch along with other senses. It is a rare condition since there are only about 20 known cases that have been reported in the various scientific literature.

The gene was discovered after the study team compared the genetic makeup of 11 families in Europe and Asia with congenital insensitivity to pain by using genome mapping. They identified the mutations in a gene called PRDM12 to be the reason behind this genetic condition. The discovery of this gene is a fifth one to play a vital role in the body’s ability to feel pain.

Professor Geoff Woods of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research at the University of Cambridge says, “The ability to sense pain is essential to our self-preservation, yet we understand far more about excessive pain than we do about lack of pain perception. Both are equally important to the development of new pain treatments - if we know the mechanisms that underlie pain sensation, we can then potentially control and reduce unnecessary pain."

PRDM12 plays an important role in modifying a protein called chromatin network in the cell whose role is to get attached to the DNA of the chromosomes and also acts as a control switch that can activate or deactivate other genes on the chromosome. Chromatin also has a major role in formation of neurons, and hence, the complete blocking of the gene PRDM12 led to malformation of pain-sensing neurons in patients suffering from congenital insensitivity to pain.

The first author of the study, Ya-Chun Chen from Cambridge University, says, “We are very hopeful that this new gene could be an excellent candidate for drug development, particularly given recent successes with drugs targeting chromatin regulators in human disease. This could potentially benefit those who are at danger from lack of pain perception and help in the development of new treatments for pain relief.”

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