Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene polymorphisms associate with crisis pain in sickle cell disease patients

Nilanjana Sadhu, Ellie H. Jhun, Andrew Posen, Yingwei Yao, Ying He, Robert E. Molokie, Diana J. Wilkie, Zaijie J. Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) catalyzes the conversion of sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine to epinephrine. We examined the association of PNMT polymorphisms with acute and chronic pain in sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: Utilization of emergency care owing to painful crisis was used as a marker for acute pain in 131 patients with SCD. Results: rs876493 A allele, rs2934965 T allele and rs2941523 G allele were significantly associated with decreased utilization (p ≤ 0.05). rs876493 A allele showed association with utilization in females (p = 0.003), not males (p = 0.803). rs2934965 T allele and rs2941523 G allele were predicted to cause loss of putative transcription factor binding sites. This is the first report of the association of PNMT polymorphisms with acute crisis pain in SCD. Together with our previous findings in catechol-o-methyltransferase, polymorphisms in catecholamine metabolizing enzymes appear to primarily influence acute pain in SCD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-278
Number of pages10
JournalPharmacogenomics
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • acute crisis pain
  • chronic pain
  • PNMT
  • sickle cell disease
  • SNP

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