Citation

Linnstaedt SD, Riker KD, Rueckeis CA, Kutchko KM, Lackey L, McCarthy KR, Tsai YH, Parker JS, Kurz MC, Hendry PL, Lewandowski C, Datner E, Pearson C, O'Neil B, Domeier RM, Kaushik S, Laederach A, McLean SA. J. Neurosci. 2018; 38(39): 8407-8420.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Society for Neuroscience)

DOI

10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3458-17.2018

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that common variants of the gene coding for FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5), a critical regulator of glucocorticoid sensitivity, affect vulnerability to stress-related disorders. In a previous report, FKBP5 rs1360780 was identified as a functional variant due to its effect on gene methylation. We here report evidence for a novel functional FKBP5 allele, rs3800373. This study assessed the association between rs3800373 and posttraumatic chronic pain in 1,607 women and men from two ethnically diverse human cohorts. The molecular mechanism through which rs3800373 affects adverse outcomes was established via in silico, in vivo, and in vitro analyses. The rs3800373 minor allele predicted worse adverse outcomes after trauma exposure, such that individuals with the minor (risk) allele developed more severe posttraumatic chronic musculoskeletal pain. Among these individuals, peritraumatic circulating FKBP5 expression levels increased as cortisol and glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) mRNA levels increased, consistent with increased glucocorticoid resistence. Bioinformatic, in vitro, and mutational analyses indicate that the rs3800373 minor allele reduces the binding of a stress and pain-associated microRNA, miR-320a, to FKBP5 via altering FKBP5 mRNA 3′UTR secondary structure (i.e. is a riboSNitch). This results in relatively greater FKBP5 translation, unchecked by miR-320a. Overall, these results identify an important gene-miRNA interaction influencing chronic pain risk in vulnerable individuals and suggests that exogenous methods to achieve targeted reduction in post-stress FKBP5 mRNA expression may constitute useful therapeutic strategies.
Significance statement:
FKBP5 is a critical regulator of the stress response. Previous studies have shown that dysregulation of the expression of this gene plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain development as well as a number of co-morbid neuropsychiatric disorders. In the current study, we identified a functional allele (rs3800373) in the 3′UTR of FKBP5 that influences vulnerability to chronic post-traumatic pain in two ethnic cohorts. Using multiple complimentary experimental approaches, we show that the FKBP5 rs3800373 minor allele alters the secondary structure of FKBP5 mRNA, decreasing the binding of a stress and pain associated microRNA, miR-320a. This results in relatively greater FKBP5 translation, unchecked by miR-320a, increasing glucocorticoid resistance and increasing vulnerability to post-traumatic pain.

Language: en