Identified rhythmic transcripts with altered rhythmicity may play important roles in circadian regulation of neuropathic pain and potentially might be targets for chronotherapies to relieve pain.

Our study shows that nerve injury in mice disrupts the rhythmic expression of hundreds of transcripts in spinal cord and periaqueductal gray, two key regions in pain modulation that are both under strong circadian control. Immune-related genes were predominantly affected by circadian disruption.