Effect of AMPK Subunit Alpha 2 Polymorphisms on Postherpetic Pain Susceptibility in Southwestern Han Chinese.

INTRODUCTION

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) can influence energy metabolism. Energy metabolism imbalance is closely associated with the occurrence of neuropathic pain (NeP). Rs10789038 and rs2796498 are genetic polymorphisms of , the gene encoding AMPK, which is closely related to energy metabolism imbalance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the southwestern Chinese Han population.

METHODS

This study enrolled 132 PHN patients and 118 healthy subjects. The rs10789038 and rs2796498 genotypes were identified in all participants. The association between these single nucleotide polymorphisms and PHN susceptibility was evaluated in the dominant and recessive models. Haplotype analysis of patients with PHN and healthy controls was performed.

RESULTS

The PHN patients were older than the healthy subjects ( < 0.05); however, the other clinical characteristics between two groups were not significantly different (all >0.05). Genotypes and allele frequencies differed significantly between PHN patients and healthy subjects in the rs10789038 polymorphism ( < 0.05), but not in rs2796498 ( > 0.05). In addition, the GG haplotype of rs10789038-rs2796498 correlated negatively with PHN occurrence in haplotype analysis ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PHN occurrence may be related to the rs10789038 A>G genetic polymorphism in the southwestern Chinese Han population.