Epigenetic regulation of acute inflammatory pain.

Acute pain is associated with tissue damage, which results in the release of inflammatory mediators. Recent studies point to the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation) in the development of pain. We have found that during acute inflammatory pain induced by the application of 10% mustard oil on the tongues of rats, levels of DNMT3a and 3b were elevated markedly (36 and 42 % respectively), whereas the level of DNMT1 was not changed...