Cdyl Deficiency Brakes Neuronal Excitability and Nociception through Promoting Kcnb1 Transcription in Peripheral Sensory Neurons

Epigenetic modifications are involved in the onset, development, and maintenance of pain; however, the precise epigenetic mechanism underlying pain regulation remains elusive. Here it is reported that the epigenetic factor chromodomain Y‐like (CDYL) is crucial for pain processing. Selective knockout of CDYL in sensory neurons results in decreased neuronal excitability and nociception. Moreover, CDYL facilitates histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) deposition at the Kcnb1 intron region thus silencing voltage‐gated potassium channel (Kv) subfamily member Kv2.1 transcription. Loss function of CDYL enhances total Kv and Kv2.1 current density in dorsal root ganglia and knockdown of Kv2.1 reverses the pain‐related phenotypes of Cdyl deficiency mice. Furthermore, focal administration of a novel potent CDYL antagonist blunts nociception and attenuates neuropathic pain. These findings reveal that CDYL is a critical regulator of pain sensation and shed light on the development of novel analgesics targeting epigenetic mechanisms. Chromodomain Y‐like (CDYL) in peripheral sensory neurons is indispensable for pain sensation. Downregulation of peripheral CDYL decreases neuronal excitability and elevates pain threshold. One of the critical mechanisms is that loss of CDYL represses histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) deposition at Kcnb1 intron region and facilitates its transcription. More importantly, focal delivery of a novel CDYL antagonist successfully attenuates neuropathic pain, providing probability for clinical translation.