Cdyl Deficiency Brakes Neuronal Excitability and Nociception through Promoting Kcnb1 Transcription in Peripheral Sensory Neurons.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic modifications are involved in the onset, development, and maintenance of pain; however, the precise epigenetic mechanism underlying pain regulation remains elusive. Here it is reported that the epigenetic factor chromodomain Y-like (CDYL) is crucial for pain processing. Selective knockout of CDYL in sensory neurons results in decreased neuronal excitability and nociception. Moreover, CDYL facilitates histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) deposition at the Kcnb1 intron region thus silencing voltage-gated potassium channel (K_v ) subfamily member K_v 2.1 transcription. Loss function of CDYL enhances total K_v and K_v 2.1 current density in dorsal root ganglia and knockdown of K_v 2.1 reverses the pain-related phenotypes of Cdyl deficiency mice. Furthermore, focal administration of a novel potent CDYL antagonist blunts nociception and attenuates neuropathic pain. These findings reveal that CDYL is a critical regulator of pain sensation and shed light on the development of novel analgesics targeting epigenetic mechanisms.

SUBMITTER: Sun ZW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8981457 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature