痛觉基,模型实验 z-bo 2021-11-17 394

　　Recently, an international research team led by scientists from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom identified a new gene PRDM12, which is essential for the generation and formation of pain nerves, and can be used as a drug target to help develop new methods of pain relief. Related papers were published in the recent "Nature Genetics" journal.

　　According to the Daily Science Net report on the 25th, pain is an early warning mechanism retained in the evolution process, which can warn of dangers and potential tissue damage in the biological environment. There are a few people who are born without pain, but they are always in danger, accumulating a lot of physical damage without knowing it, and often leading to a shorter life span. People do not want to feel excessive pain or chronic pain, and the existing pain relief measures are not ideal.

　　 The research team used detailed genome maps to analyze the genetic makeup of 11 families with congenital analgesia (CIP) symptoms in Asia and Europe, and found that the cause of this symptom was a mutation in the PRDM12 gene. PRDM proteins are a family of epigenetic regulators that control neural differentiation and neural formation. This gene is related to chromatin modification, and its function is like a switch, which can turn the gene on or off (called epigenetic influence). The researchers identified 10 different homozygous variants of the PRDM12 gene in CIP patients, all of which hindered gene function. Family members affected by CIP carry two copies of the gene variant, and if they inherit only one copy from their parents, they are not affected by CIP.

　　 Researchers observed the nerve tissue of CIP patients and found that their pain nerves were missing. It is speculated from the clinical features of this disease that CIP patients have obstacles in the formation of painful neurons during embryonic development. Researchers have confirmed this by studying mouse and frog models, combined with human stem cell studies.

　　 Jeff Woods, the co-leader of the study and a professor at the Institute of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, pointed out that the ability to feel pain is essential for self-protection, and people still know very little about analgesia. He said: "In the development of new pain therapies, these two aspects are equally important-if we know the mechanism behind pain, it is possible to control and reduce unnecessary pain."

　　 So far, the PRDM12 gene is the fifth gene found to be related to analgesia. The two genes discovered in the past have brought new painkillers to people, and it has now entered the clinical testing stage. PRDM12 gene can also be used as a drug target for pain relief. The researchers expressed the hope that the new gene can be an excellent candidate in drug development.