Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized pain research by providing comprehensive insights into genetic variation across the genome. Recent studies have expanded the known spectrum of mutations in genes such as SCN9A and NTRK1, which are commonly mutated in hereditary sensor...

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Main Authors: Dario Kringel, Jörn Lötsch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Pharmacological Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825000921
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author Dario Kringel
Jörn Lötsch
author_facet Dario Kringel
Jörn Lötsch
author_sort Dario Kringel
collection DOAJ
description Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized pain research by providing comprehensive insights into genetic variation across the genome. Recent studies have expanded the known spectrum of mutations in genes such as SCN9A and NTRK1, which are commonly mutated in hereditary sensory neuropathies. NGS has uncovered critical alternative splicing events and facilitated single-cell transcriptomics, revealing cellular heterogeneity within tissues. An NGS-based classifier predicted extremely high opioid requirements with 80 % accuracy, highlighting the importance of tailoring opioid therapy based on genetic profiles. Key genes such as GDF5, COL11A1, and TRPV1 have been linked to osteoarthritis risk and pain sensitivity, while HLA-DRB1, TNF, and P2X7 play critical roles in inflammation and pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis. Innovative tools, such as an atlas of the somatosensory system in neuropathic pain, have been developed based on NGS data, focusing on the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia. This approach allows the analysis of cellular changes during the development of chronic pain. In the study of rare variants, NGS outperforms single nucleotide variant candidate studies and classical genome-wide association approaches. The complex data generated by NGS enables integrated multi-omics approaches, allowing deeper exploration of the molecular and cellular basis of pain perception. In addition, the characterization of non-coding RNAs has opened new therapeutic avenues. NGS-based pain research faces challenges related to complex data analysis and interpretation of rare genetic variants with unknown biological functions. Nevertheless, NGS offers significant potential for improving personalized pain management and highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to translate findings into clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-bfc865da4b3740a5ab222a4985df956e2025-08-20T02:04:00ZengElsevierPharmacological Research1096-11862025-04-0121410766710.1016/j.phrs.2025.107667Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencingDario Kringel0Jörn Lötsch1Goethe - University, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Theodor Stern Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60590, GermanyGoethe - University, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Theodor Stern Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60590, Germany; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Finland; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60596, Germany; Correspondence to: Goethe - University, Theodor - Stern - Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60590, Germany.Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized pain research by providing comprehensive insights into genetic variation across the genome. Recent studies have expanded the known spectrum of mutations in genes such as SCN9A and NTRK1, which are commonly mutated in hereditary sensory neuropathies. NGS has uncovered critical alternative splicing events and facilitated single-cell transcriptomics, revealing cellular heterogeneity within tissues. An NGS-based classifier predicted extremely high opioid requirements with 80 % accuracy, highlighting the importance of tailoring opioid therapy based on genetic profiles. Key genes such as GDF5, COL11A1, and TRPV1 have been linked to osteoarthritis risk and pain sensitivity, while HLA-DRB1, TNF, and P2X7 play critical roles in inflammation and pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis. Innovative tools, such as an atlas of the somatosensory system in neuropathic pain, have been developed based on NGS data, focusing on the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia. This approach allows the analysis of cellular changes during the development of chronic pain. In the study of rare variants, NGS outperforms single nucleotide variant candidate studies and classical genome-wide association approaches. The complex data generated by NGS enables integrated multi-omics approaches, allowing deeper exploration of the molecular and cellular basis of pain perception. In addition, the characterization of non-coding RNAs has opened new therapeutic avenues. NGS-based pain research faces challenges related to complex data analysis and interpretation of rare genetic variants with unknown biological functions. Nevertheless, NGS offers significant potential for improving personalized pain management and highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to translate findings into clinical practice.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825000921PainNext generation sequeningGenomicsTranscriptomicsData science
spellingShingle Dario Kringel
Jörn Lötsch
Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
Pharmacological Research
Pain
Next generation sequening
Genomics
Transcriptomics
Data science
title Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
title_full Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
title_fullStr Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
title_short Knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next-generation sequencing
title_sort knowledge of the genetics of human pain gained over the last decade from next generation sequencing
topic Pain
Next generation sequening
Genomics
Transcriptomics
Data science
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825000921
work_keys_str_mv AT dariokringel knowledgeofthegeneticsofhumanpaingainedoverthelastdecadefromnextgenerationsequencing
AT jornlotsch knowledgeofthegeneticsofhumanpaingainedoverthelastdecadefromnextgenerationsequencing