Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to hip pain could one day lead to more effective treatments, say researchers who have linked a dozen genetic variants to this common condition.
in the US report experiencing hip pain most days. This is usually treated with painkillers, such as ibuprofen or morphine, and physiotherapy.
鈥淭he painkillers we have are not very good,鈥� says at King鈥檚 College London, who wasn鈥檛 involved in the new research. 鈥淪tudying the genetics of pain can reveal new genes and proteins to target with drugs, which could provide better options for pain relief.鈥�
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To understand the role of genetics in hip pain, at the University of Dundee, UK, and his colleagues analysed the genetic data of more than 220,000 white people, aged 40 or older, who took part in the UK Biobank study. They also looked at survey data where these people reported whether they had experienced pain in various body parts, including their hips, over the past month.
From this, the researchers pinpointed 12 genetic variants, across seven regions of the genome, that were strongly associated with hip pain. These variants probably influence the activity of 17 nearby genes, according to the researchers.
One of these genes, called GABRB2, encodes a part of a protein that receives signals from a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid. This is important for blocking electrical signalling in the brain, affecting the perception of pain.
Another gene was RPRD2, which has been previously associated with hip osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that has been linked to age-related wear and tear and is a key cause of hip pain. Although the precise function of the protein that RPRD2 encodes is unclear, it may be involved in the upkeep of cartilage within the hip joint, according to the researchers.
Finding drugs that target specific genes and the proteins they encode could help to maintain cartilage for longer, says Williams.
The researchers also found a strong overlap in the variants linked to both hip pain and some other types of discomfort, such as neck or shoulder pain. 鈥淚t makes sense that genes that are active in the brain, that may help process chronic pain generally from several parts of the body, would be linked to hip pain,鈥� says Williams.
Future studies should explore the genetic factors underpinning hip pain in more diverse populations, she says.
medRxiv
