Pain Sensitivity and Opioid Response (COMT/OPRM1)
Prevalence: Up to 40% variance in opioid requirements is genetically determined
Genetic variation in COMT (Val158Met) and OPRM1 (A118G) creates a wide spectrum of pain sensitivity and opioid analgesic requirements. Personalized pain management is one of the most promising applications of pharmacogenomics.
Peptide Therapeutics
Genotype-optimized opioid peptide analogs, biased mu-opioid agonist peptides (analgesia without respiratory depression), enkephalin stabilizers, and COMT-modulating peptides for personalized pain management.
Current Treatments
Opioids (morphine, fentanyl), NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, SNRI antidepressants. Genotype-guided opioid selection is emerging.
Key Genetic Variants
Associated Genes
Degrades catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine) in the prefrontal cortex. The Val/Met polymorphism creates a spectrum of dopamine metabolism rates affecting cognition, pain, and stress response.
OPRM1Mu-Opioid Receptor 1Primary receptor for endogenous opioid peptides (beta-endorphin, enkephalins) and opioid analgesics. Mediates analgesia, reward, respiratory depression, and physical dependence.
Explore peptide candidates for Pain Sensitivity and Opioid Response (COMT/OPRM1)
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