A methyltransferase in inflammatory pain and anxiety
Phosphorylated CTD interacting factor 1 (PCIF1) is a methyltransferase that mediates N6,2′-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am) modification but its role in pain and anxiety is not yet clear.
The researchers in this study demonstrate that persistent peripheral inflammation reduces PCIF1 levels in the mouse anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and is mediated by decreased binding of GLI2 to the Pcif1 promoter in ACC neurons, which is crucial for both the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory pain and comorbid anxiety.
They further reveal that PCIF1 modulates these behaviors by targeting Gap43 m6 Am modification, thereby promoting GAP43 expression, which in turn results in inflammatory pain and its comorbid anxiety-like behavior.
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(26)00094-X
https://sciencemission.com/PCIF1-mediated-m6--Am-modification-in-ACC-neurons
