Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Diatchenko, L; Slade, GD; Nackley, AG; Bhalang, K; Sigurdsson, A; Belfer, I; Goldman, D; Xu, K; Shabalina, SA; Shagin, D; Max, MB; Makarov, SS ...
Published in: Hum Mol Genet
January 1, 2005

Pain sensitivity varies substantially among humans. A significant part of the human population develops chronic pain conditions that are characterized by heightened pain sensitivity. We identified three genetic variants (haplotypes) of the gene encoding catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) that we designated as low pain sensitivity (LPS), average pain sensitivity (APS) and high pain sensitivity (HPS). We show that these haplotypes encompass 96% of the human population, and five combinations of these haplotypes are strongly associated (P=0.0004) with variation in the sensitivity to experimental pain. The presence of even a single LPS haplotype diminishes, by as much as 2.3 times, the risk of developing myogenous temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), a common musculoskeletal pain condition. The LPS haplotype produces much higher levels of COMT enzymatic activity when compared with the APS or HPS haplotypes. Inhibition of COMT in the rat results in a profound increase in pain sensitivity. Thus, COMT activity substantially influences pain sensitivity, and the three major haplotypes determine COMT activity in humans that inversely correlates with pain sensitivity and the risk of developing TMD.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Hum Mol Genet

DOI

ISSN

0964-6906

Publication Date

January 1, 2005

Volume

14

Issue

1

Start / End Page

135 / 143

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
  • Risk Factors
  • Rats
  • Pain
  • Humans
  • Haplotypes
  • Genetics & Heredity
  • Female
  • Chronic Disease
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Diatchenko, L., Slade, G. D., Nackley, A. G., Bhalang, K., Sigurdsson, A., Belfer, I., … Maixner, W. (2005). Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition. Hum Mol Genet, 14(1), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddi013
Diatchenko, Luda, Gary D. Slade, Andrea G. Nackley, Konakporn Bhalang, Asgeir Sigurdsson, Inna Belfer, David Goldman, et al. “Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition.Hum Mol Genet 14, no. 1 (January 1, 2005): 135–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddi013.
Diatchenko L, Slade GD, Nackley AG, Bhalang K, Sigurdsson A, Belfer I, et al. Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition. Hum Mol Genet. 2005 Jan 1;14(1):135–43.
Diatchenko, Luda, et al. “Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition.Hum Mol Genet, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 135–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/hmg/ddi013.
Diatchenko L, Slade GD, Nackley AG, Bhalang K, Sigurdsson A, Belfer I, Goldman D, Xu K, Shabalina SA, Shagin D, Max MB, Makarov SS, Maixner W. Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition. Hum Mol Genet. 2005 Jan 1;14(1):135–143.
Journal cover image

Published In

Hum Mol Genet

DOI

ISSN

0964-6906

Publication Date

January 1, 2005

Volume

14

Issue

1

Start / End Page

135 / 143

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
  • Risk Factors
  • Rats
  • Pain
  • Humans
  • Haplotypes
  • Genetics & Heredity
  • Female
  • Chronic Disease
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase