Systemic gene expression profiles according to pain types in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

This study explores the genetic basis of pain in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). It looks at how gene expression differs between SCI patients with and without pain, compared to able-bodied individuals. The research identifies specific genes and biological processes related to T cell activation and inflammation that are more active in SCI patients experiencing pain. The study also investigates gene expression differences based on the type of pain (neuropathic vs. nociceptive) reported as the worst, finding potential links between T-cell signaling and nociceptive pain.

• 1
  Participants with SCI who reported pain had 468 differentially expressed (DE) genes compared to able-bodied (AB) individuals, while those without pain had 564 DE genes.
• 2
  Upregulated genes distinct to SCI participants with pain were enriched in categories related to T cell activation or inflammation.
• 3
  Participants with SCI who ranked nociceptive pain as worst had 61 distinct DE genes compared to AB, with upregulated genes related to “positive regulation of T cell activation”.