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Published on: November 30, 2016
MicroRNA expression profiles differentiate chronic pain condition subtypes
Brittney P Ciszek1, Asma A Khan1, Hong Dang2
1Center for Pain Research and Innovation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Abstract:
Chronic pain is a significant health care problem, ineffectively treated because of its unclear etiology and heterogeneous clinical presentation. Emerging evidence demonstrates that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of pain-relevant genes, yet little is known about their role in chronic pain. Here, we evaluate the relationship among pain, psychological characteristics, plasma cytokines, and whole blood miRNAs in 22 healthy controls (HCs); 33 subjects with chronic pelvic pain (vestibulodynia, VBD); and 23 subjects with VBD and irritable bowel syndrome (VBD + IBS). VBD subjects were similar to HCs in self-reported pain, psychological profiles, and remote bodily pain. VBD + IBS subjects reported decreased health and function; and an increase in headaches, somatization, and remote bodily pain. Furthermore, VBD subjects exhibited a balance in proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, whereas VBD + IBS subjects failed to exhibit a compensatory increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. VBD subjects differed from controls in expression of 10 miRNAs of predicted importance for pain and estrogen signaling. VBD + IBS subjects differed from controls in expression of 11 miRNAs of predicted importance for pain, cell physiology, and insulin signaling. miRNA expression was correlated with pain-relevant phenotypes and cytokine levels. These results suggest that miRNAs represent a valuable tool for differentiating VBD subtypes (localized pain with apparent peripheral neurosensory disruption vs widespread pain with a central sensory contribution) that may require different treatment approaches.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show distinct expression patterns in chronic pelvic pain patients, particularly those with co-occurring irritable bowel syndrome. These miRNA differences may help differentiate pain subtypes for tailored treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Molecular Biology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Chronic pain, including vestibulodynia (VBD), presents diagnostic and treatment challenges due to unclear causes and varied symptoms.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in regulating pain-associated genes, but their specific involvement in chronic pain conditions remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pain, psychological factors, plasma cytokines, and whole blood miRNA expression in healthy controls (HCs), VBD patients, and VBD patients with irritable bowel syndrome (VBD + IBS).
- To identify potential miRNA biomarkers that differentiate VBD subtypes and inform treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of self-reported pain, psychological profiles, plasma cytokine levels, and whole blood miRNA expression across three groups: HCs, VBD, and VBD + IBS.
- Statistical analysis to correlate miRNA expression with clinical pain phenotypes and cytokine levels.
Main Results:
- VBD + IBS subjects reported worse health, function, and increased somatic pain compared to HCs and VBD subjects.
- VBD + IBS subjects showed an imbalance in cytokine profiles, lacking a compensatory anti-inflammatory response.
- Distinct miRNA expression profiles were observed in VBD and VBD + IBS groups compared to HCs, with specific miRNAs implicated in pain, estrogen signaling, cell physiology, and insulin signaling.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA expression patterns differ significantly between VBD and VBD + IBS, suggesting distinct underlying biological mechanisms.
- miRNAs hold promise as biomarkers for distinguishing between localized VBD and VBD with central pain contributions, potentially guiding personalized treatment approaches.
