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Updated: May 13, 2026
10:37
Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
Published on: April 11, 2018
Potential therapeutic targets for multisite chronic pain: A proteome-wide Mendelian randomization study
Jun Gao1, JiaHao Liu1,2
1Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
Medicine
|May 12, 2026
Summary
This study used proteome-wide Mendelian randomization to identify plasma proteins linked to multisite chronic pain (MCP). Key proteins like C8B and BCHE emerged as high-priority therapeutic targets for managing MCP.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Proteomics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Multisite chronic pain (MCP) is a prevalent condition significantly impacting quality of life.
- Identifying novel therapeutic targets for MCP is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for multisite chronic pain (MCP) using a proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
- To explore causal associations between plasma proteins and MCP risk and protective effects.
Main Methods:
- Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed, utilizing large-scale genome-wide association study data for MCP and plasma protein data from UKB-PPP and Finngen.
- Multiple follow-up analyses, including functional investigations, mediation analysis, druggability evaluation, and phenome-wide MR, were conducted.
Main Results:
- Eleven plasma proteins were significantly associated with MCP.
- Protective associations were observed for LRP11, BCHE, DAG1, and SUOX, while LATS1, CEP170, SLC27A4, HEXIM1, ECM1, C8B, and MST1 were associated with increased MCP risk.
- ECM1, C8B, LRP11, and BCHE showed the strongest evidence, with C8B and BCHE identified as having the highest therapeutic priority.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified several plasma proteins causally associated with multisite chronic pain (MCP).
- Specific proteins, notably C8B and BCHE, represent promising therapeutic targets for MCP intervention.
- Plasma protein levels play a significant role in the complex etiology of MCP.
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