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. 2010 Oct 26;5(10):e13641.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013641.

The genetic influence on the cortical processing of experimental pain and the moderating effect of pain status

Helen Vossen  1 , Gunter Kenis, Bart Rutten, Jim van Os, Hermie Hermens, Richel Lousberg
Affiliations

The genetic influence on the cortical processing of experimental pain and the moderating effect of pain status

Helen Vossen et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Research suggests that the COMT Val(158)Met, BDNF Val(66)Met and OPRM1 A(118)G polymorphisms moderate the experience of pain. In order to obtain experimental confirmation and extension of findings, cortical processing of experimentally-induced pain was used.

Method: A sample of 78 individuals with chronic low back pain complaints and 37 healthy controls underwent EEG registration. Event-Related Potentials were measured in response to electrical nociceptive stimuli and moderation by COMT Val(158)Met, BDNF Val(66)Met and OPRM1 A(118)G polymorphisms was assessed.

Results: Genetic variation did not have a direct effect on cortical processing of experimental pain. However, genetic effects (COMT Val(158)Met and BDNF Val(66)Met) on experimental pain were moderated by the presence of chronic pain. In the presence of chronic pain, the COMT Met allele and the BDNF Met allele augmented cortical pain processing, whilst reducing pain processing in pain-free controls. No significant effects were found concerning the OPRM1 A(118)G polymorphism.

Conclusions: The current study suggests that chronic experience of pain enhances genetic sensitivity to experimentally induced mildly painful stimuli, possibly through a process of epigenetic modification.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Interaction between the COMT 158Met allele and pain status.
Maximum peak amplitudes of the N2-component at C4. Note that the y-axis displays negative numbers since this concerns a negative ERP component.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Interaction between the BDNF 66Met allele and pain status.
Grand averages demonstrating the interaction between pain status and Met carriers. P1 component at Cz.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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