G9a participates in nerve injury-induced Kcna2 downregulation in primary sensory neurons

• DOI: 10.1038/srep37704
• Publication Date: 2016-11-22T10:13:06Z
• Authors: Lingli Liang; Xiyao Gu; Jian-Yuan Zhao; Shaogen Wu; Xuerong Miao; Jifang Xiao; Kai Mo; Jun Zhang; Brianna Marie Lutz; Alex Bekker; Yuan-Xiang Tao
• Keywords: Nerve Injury; Dorsal root ganglion; Axotomy

Abstract Nerve injury-induced downregulation of voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kcna2 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is critical for DRG neuronal excitability and neuropathic pain genesis. However, how nerve injury causes this still elusive. Euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2, also known as G9a, methylates histone H3 on lysine residue 9 to predominantly produce a dynamic dimethylation, resulting condensed chromatin gene transcriptional repression. We showed here that blocking increase G9a rescued mRNA protein expression axotomized attenuated development hypersensitivity. Mimicking decreased expression, reduced Kv current, increased neurons led spinal cord central sensitization pain-like symptoms. co-localized with neurons. These findings indicate contributes through epigenetic silencing DRG.