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Zhang L, Nagel M, Olson WP, Chesler AT, O'Connor DH. Trigeminal innervation and tactile responses in mouse tongue. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.17.553449. [PMID: 37645855 PMCID: PMC10462066 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.553449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian tongue is richly innervated with somatosensory, gustatory and motor fibers. These form the basis of many ethologically important functions such as eating, speaking and social grooming. Despite its high tactile acuity and sensitivity, the neural basis of tongue mechanosensation remains largely mysterious. Here we explored the organization of mechanosensory afferents in the tongue and found that each lingual papilla is innervated by Piezo2 + trigeminal neurons. Notably, each fungiform papilla contained highly specialized ring-like sensory neuron terminations that asymmetrically circumscribe the taste buds. Myelinated lingual afferents in the mouse lingual papillae did not form corpuscular sensory end organs but rather had only free nerve endings. In vivo single-unit recordings from the trigeminal ganglion revealed lingual low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) with conduction velocities in the Aδ range or above and distinct adaptation properties ranging from intermediately adapting (IA) to rapidly adapting (RA). IA units were sensitive to both static indentation and stroking, while RA units had a preference for tangential forces applied by stroking. Lingual LTMRs were not directly responsive to rapid cooling or chemicals that can induce astringent or numbing sensations. Sparse labeling of lingual afferents in the tongue revealed distinct terminal morphologies and innervation patterns in fungiform and filiform papillae. Together, our results indicate that fungiform papillae are mechanosensory structures, while suggesting a simple model that links the functional and anatomical properties of tactile sensory neurons in the tongue.
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2
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Fernandez A, Sarn N, Eng C, Wright KM. Intrinsic control of DRG sensory neuron diversification by Pten. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552039. [PMID: 37781577 PMCID: PMC10541114 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) modulates intracellular survival and differentiation signaling pathways downstream of neurotrophin receptors in the developing peripheral nervous system (PNS). Although well-studied in the context of brain development, our understanding of the in vivo role of PTEN in the PNS is limited to models of neuropathic pain and nerve injury. Here, we assessed how alterations in PTEN signaling affects the development of peripheral somatosensory circuits. We found that sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in Pten heterozygous ( Pten Het ) mice exhibit defects in neuronal subtype diversification. Abnormal DRG differentiation in Pten Het mice arises early in development, with subsets of neurons expressing both progenitor and neuronal markers. DRGs in Pten Het mice show dysregulation of both mTOR and GSK-3β signaling pathways downstream of PTEN. Finally, we show that mice with an autism-associated mutation in Pten ( Pten Y68H/+ ) show abnormal DRG development. Thus, we have discovered a crucial role for PTEN signaling in the intrinsic diversification of primary sensory neuron populations in the DRG during development.
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3
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Yang S, Li J, Cai X. The high expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha Ⅱ ( GFRA2) as a predictor of poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients: A survival and regression analysis approach. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18291. [PMID: 37519699 PMCID: PMC10372394 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer has high mortality rates worldwide. Therefore, there is a need to identify prognostic biomarkers. This study evaluated the association between GFRA2 expression levels with clinicopathological features and prognosis in gastric cancer using data extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a series of algorithms. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the association between different clinical features and survival. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to examine the correlation between GFRA2 expression and immune infiltration. The results showed that the expression of GFRA2 in tumor samples was significantly lower than that in normal samples. High expression of GFRA2 was significantly associated with histological type, histologic grade, and worse overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival. The univariate Cox analysis showed that the expression of GFRA2 was significantly correlated with T stage, N stage, M stage, and age. The multivariate analysis identified GFRA2 expression as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer. GSEA showed that GFRA2 might regulate the calcium signaling pathway, focus adhesion, olfactory conduction, the extracellular matrix glycoproteins, and response to the Leishmania parasitic infection. GFRA2 showed a significant moderate positive correlation with the infiltration of mast cells. In summary, a high expression of GFRA2 may contribute to poor survival in gastric cancer patients and could be used as a potential prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyu Yang
- College of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
- Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330044, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Xiaohui Cai
- College of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Beibu Gulf Marine Biodiversity Conservation, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
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4
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Mafa-dependent GABAergic activity promotes mouse neonatal apneas. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3284. [PMID: 35672398 PMCID: PMC9174494 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30825-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
While apneas are associated with multiple pathological and fatal conditions, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We report that a mutated form of the transcription factor Mafa (Mafa4A) that prevents phosphorylation of the Mafa protein leads to an abnormally high incidence of breath holding apneas and death in newborn Mafa4A/4A mutant mice. This apneic breathing is phenocopied by restricting the mutation to central GABAergic inhibitory neurons and by activation of inhibitory Mafa neurons while reversed by inhibiting GABAergic transmission centrally. We find that Mafa activates the Gad2 promoter in vitro and that this activation is enhanced by the mutation that likely results in increased inhibitory drives onto target neurons. We also find that Mafa inhibitory neurons are absent from respiratory, sensory (primary and secondary) and pontine structures but are present in the vicinity of the hypoglossal motor nucleus including premotor neurons that innervate the geniohyoid muscle, to control upper airway patency. Altogether, our data reveal a role for Mafa phosphorylation in regulation of GABAergic drives and suggest a mechanism whereby reduced premotor drives to upper airway muscles may cause apneic breathing at birth. Apneas are associated with many pathological conditions. Here, the authors show in a mouse model that stabilization of the transcription factor Mafa in brainstem GABAergic neurons may contribute to apnea, by decreasing motor drive to muscles controlling the airways.
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Wang CM, Green DP, Dong X. Transcription Factor MAFA Regulates Mechanical Sensation by Modulating Piezo2 Expression. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:933-937. [PMID: 35585476 PMCID: PMC9352837 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00879-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Ming Wang
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Dustin P Green
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Xinzhong Dong
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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6
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de Nooij JC. Influencers in the Somatosensory System: Extrinsic Control of Sensory Neuron Phenotypes. Neuroscientist 2022:10738584221074350. [DOI: 10.1177/10738584221074350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Somatosensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) comprise several main subclasses: high threshold nociceptors/thermoceptors, high- and low-threshold mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors. Recent years have seen an explosion in the identification of molecules that underlie the functional diversity of these sensory modalities. They also have begun to reveal the developmental mechanisms that channel the emergence of this subtype diversity, solidifying the importance of peripheral instructive signals. Somatic sensory neurons collectively serve numerous essential physiological and protective roles, and as such, an increased understanding of the processes that underlie the specialization of these sensory subtypes is not only biologically interesting but also clinically relevant.
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Karpinski BA, Maynard TM, Bryan CA, Yitsege G, Horvath A, Lee NH, Moody SA, LaMantia AS. Selective disruption of trigeminal sensory neurogenesis and differentiation in a mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm047357. [PMID: 33722956 PMCID: PMC8126478 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.047357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cranial nerve anomalies and disordered oropharyngeal function, including pediatric dysphagia. Using the LgDel 22q11DS mouse model, we investigated whether sensory neuron differentiation in the trigeminal ganglion (CNgV), which is essential for normal orofacial function, is disrupted. We did not detect changes in cranial placode cell translocation or neural crest migration at early stages of LgDel CNgV development. However, as the ganglion coalesces, proportions of placode-derived LgDel CNgV cells increase relative to neural crest cells. In addition, local aggregation of placode-derived cells increases and aggregation of neural crest-derived cells decreases in LgDel CNgV. This change in cell-cell relationships was accompanied by altered proliferation of placode-derived cells at embryonic day (E)9.5, and premature neurogenesis from neural crest-derived precursors, reflected by an increased frequency of asymmetric neurogenic divisions for neural crest-derived precursors by E10.5. These early differences in LgDel CNgV genesis prefigure changes in sensory neuron differentiation and gene expression by postnatal day 8, when early signs of cranial nerve dysfunction associated with pediatric dysphagia are observed in LgDel mice. Apparently, 22q11 deletion destabilizes CNgV sensory neuron genesis and differentiation by increasing variability in cell-cell interaction, proliferation and sensory neuron differentiation. This early developmental divergence and its consequences may contribute to oropharyngeal dysfunction, including suckling, feeding and swallowing disruptions at birth, and additional orofacial sensory/motor deficits throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly A. Karpinski
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Thomas M. Maynard
- The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24014, USA
| | - Corey A. Bryan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Gelila Yitsege
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Anelia Horvath
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Norman H. Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Sally A. Moody
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Anthony-Samuel LaMantia
- The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24014, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
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Donnelly CR, Kumari A, Li L, Vesela I, Bradley RM, Mistretta CM, Pierchala BA. Probing the multimodal fungiform papilla: complex peripheral nerve endings of chorda tympani taste and mechanosensitive fibers before and after Hedgehog pathway inhibition. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 387:225-247. [PMID: 34859291 PMCID: PMC8821500 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The fungiform papilla (FP) is a gustatory and somatosensory structure incorporating chorda tympani (CT) nerve fibers that innervate taste buds (TB) and also contain somatosensory endings for touch and temperature. Hedgehog (HH) pathway inhibition eliminates TB, but CT innervation remains in the FP. Importantly, after HH inhibition, CT neurophysiological responses to taste stimuli are eliminated, but tactile responses remain. To examine CT fibers that respond to tactile stimuli in the absence of TB, we used Phox2b-Cre; Rosa26LSL−TdTomato reporter mice to selectively label CT fibers with TdTomato. Normally CT fibers project in a compact bundle directly into TB, but after HH pathway inhibition, CT fibers reorganize and expand just under the FP epithelium where TB were. This widened expanse of CT fibers coexpresses Synapsin-1, β-tubulin, S100, and neurofilaments. Further, GAP43 expression in these fibers suggests they are actively remodeling. Interestingly, CT fibers have complex terminals within the apical FP epithelium and in perigemmal locations in the FP apex. These extragemmal fibers remain after HH pathway inhibition. To identify tactile end organs in FP, we used a K20 antibody to label Merkel cells. In control mice, K20 was expressed in TB cells and at the base of epithelial ridges outside of FP. After HH pathway inhibition, K20 + cells remained in epithelial ridges but were eliminated in the apical FP without TB. These data suggest that the complex, extragemmal nerve endings within and disbursed under the apical FP are the mechanosensitive nerve endings of the CT that remain after HH pathway inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Donnelly
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Archana Kumari
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, USA
| | - Libo Li
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Iva Vesela
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Robert M Bradley
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Charlotte M Mistretta
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Brian A Pierchala
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, Indianapolis, USA.
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9
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Ito A, Imamura F. Expression of Maf family proteins in glutamatergic neurons of the mouse olfactory bulb. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 82:77-87. [PMID: 34679244 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The fate of neurons in the developing brain is largely determined by the combination of transcription factors they express. In particular, stem cells must follow different transcriptional cascades during differentiation in order to generate neurons with different neurotransmitter properties, such as glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. In the mouse cerebral cortex, it has been shown that large Maf family proteins, MafA, MafB and c-Maf, regulate the development of specific types of GABAergic interneurons but are not expressed in glutamatergic neurons. In this study, we examined the expression of large Maf family proteins in the developing mouse olfactory bulb (OB) by immunohistochemistry and found that the cell populations expressing MafA and MafB are almost identical, and most of them express Tbr2. As Tbr2 is expressed in glutamatergic neurons in the OB, we further examined the expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal markers in MafA and MafB positive cells. The results showed that in the OB, MafA and MafB are expressed exclusively in glutamatergic neurons, but not in GABAergic neurons. We also found that few cells express c-Maf in the OB. These results indicate that, unlike the cerebral cortex, MafA and/or MafB may regulate the development of glutamatergic neurons in the developing OB. This study advances our knowledge about the development of glutamatergic neurons in the olfactory bulb, and also might suggest that mechanisms for the generation of projection neurons and interneurons differ between the cortex and the olfactory bulb, even though they both develop from the telencephalon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Ito
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Fumiaki Imamura
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Generation of hiPSC-derived low threshold mechanoreceptors containing axonal termini resembling bulbous sensory nerve endings and expressing Piezo1 and Piezo2. Stem Cell Res 2021; 56:102535. [PMID: 34607262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatosensory low threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) sense innocuous mechanical forces, largely through specialized axon termini termed sensory nerve endings, where the mechanotransduction process initiates upon activation of mechanotransducers. In humans, a subset of sensory nerve endings is enlarged, forming bulb-like expansions, termed bulbous nerve endings. There is no in vitro human model to study these neuronal endings. Piezo2 is the main mechanotransducer found in LTMRs. Recent evidence shows that Piezo1, the other mechanotransducer considered absent in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), is expressed at low level in somatosensory neurons. We established a differentiation protocol to generate, from iPSC-derived neuronal precursor cells, human LTMR recapitulating bulbous sensory nerve endings and heterogeneous expression of Piezo1 and Piezo2. The derived neurons express LTMR-specific genes, convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals and have specialized axon termini that morphologically resemble bulbous nerve endings. Piezo2 is concentrated within these enlarged axon termini. Some derived neurons express low level Piezo1, and a subset co-express both channels. Thus, we generated a unique, iPSCs-derived human model that can be used to investigate the physiology of bulbous sensory nerve endings, and the role of Piezo1 and 2 during mechanosensation.
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11
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Handler A, Ginty DD. The mechanosensory neurons of touch and their mechanisms of activation. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:521-537. [PMID: 34312536 PMCID: PMC8485761 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00489-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our sense of touch emerges from an array of mechanosensory structures residing within the fabric of our skin. These tactile end organ structures convert innocuous forces acting on the skin into electrical signals that propagate to the CNS via the axons of low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs). Our rich capacity for tactile discrimination arises from the dissimilar intrinsic properties of the LTMR subtypes that innervate different regions of the skin and the structurally distinct end organ complexes with which they associate. These end organ structures comprise a range of non-neuronal cell types, which may themselves actively contribute to the transformation of tactile forces into neural impulses within the LTMR afferents. Although the mechanism and the site of transduction across end organs remain unclear, PIEZO2 has emerged as the principal mechanosensitive channel involved in light touch of the skin. Here we review the physiological properties of LTMR subtypes and discuss how features of their cutaneous end organ complexes shape subtype-specific tuning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Rinwa P, Calvo-Enrique L, Zhang MD, Nyengaard JR, Karlsson P, Ernfors P. Demise of nociceptive Schwann cells causes nerve retraction and pain hyperalgesia. Pain 2021; 162:1816-1827. [PMID: 33979318 PMCID: PMC8120683 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Recent findings indicate that nociceptive nerves are not "free", but similar to touch and pressure sensitive nerves, terminate in an end-organ in mice. This sensory structure consists of the nociceptive nerves and specialized nociceptive Schwann cells forming a mesh-like organ in subepidermis with pain transduction initiated at both these cellular constituents. The intimate relation of nociceptive nerves with nociceptive Schwann cells in mice raises the question whether defects in nociceptive Schwann cells can by itself contribute to pain hyperalgesia, nerve retraction, and peripheral neuropathy. We therefore examined the existence of nociceptive Schwann cells in human skin and their possible contribution to neuropathy and pain hyperalgesia in mouse models. Similar to mouse, human skin contains SOX10+/S100B+/AQP1+ Schwann cells in the subepidermal border that have extensive processes, which are intimately associated with nociceptive nerves projecting into epidermis. The ablation of nociceptive Schwann cells in mice resulted in nerve retraction and mechanical, cold, and heat hyperalgesia. Conversely, ablating the nociceptive nerves led to a retraction of epidermal Schwann cell processes, changes in nociceptive Schwann cell soma morphology, heat analgesia, and mechanical hyperalgesia. Our results provide evidence for a nociceptive sensory end-organ in the human skin and using animal models highlight the interdependence of the nerve and the nociceptive Schwann cell. Finally, we show that demise of nociceptive Schwann cells is sufficient to cause neuropathic-like pain in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puneet Rinwa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Calvo-Enrique
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ming-Dong Zhang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Randel Nyengaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine—Core Centre for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centre for Stochastic Geometry and Advanced Bioimaging, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Páll Karlsson
- Department of Clinical Medicine—Core Centre for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Pain Research Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Patrik Ernfors
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Nickolls AR, Lee MM, Espinoza DF, Szczot M, Lam RM, Wang Q, Beers J, Zou J, Nguyen MQ, Solinski HJ, AlJanahi AA, Johnson KR, Ward ME, Chesler AT, Bönnemann CG. Transcriptional Programming of Human Mechanosensory Neuron Subtypes from Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 30:932-946.e7. [PMID: 31968264 PMCID: PMC7059559 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient and homogeneous in vitro generation of peripheral sensory neurons may provide a framework for novel drug screening platforms and disease models of touch and pain. We discover that, by ovesssrexpressing NGN2 and BRN3A, human pluripotent stem cells can be transcriptionally programmed to differentiate into a surprisingly uniform culture of cold- and mechano-sensing neurons. Although such a neuronal subtype is not found in mice, we identify molecular evidence for its existence in human sensory ganglia. Combining NGN2 and BRN3A programming with neural crest patterning, we produce two additional populations of sensory neurons, including a specialized touch receptor neuron subtype. Finally, we apply this system to model a rare inherited sensory disorder of touch and proprioception caused by inactivating mutations in PIEZO2. Together, these findings establish an approach to specify distinct sensory neuron subtypes in vitro, underscoring the utility of stem cell technology to capture human-specific features of physiology and disease. Nickolls et al. develop a method, using human stem cells, to generate specific types of sensory neurons that detect cold temperature and mechanical force. This approach uncovers a class of neuron found in humans, but not mice, and enables the modeling of a rare sensory disorder of touch and proprioception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec R Nickolls
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Michelle M Lee
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David F Espinoza
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marcin Szczot
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ruby M Lam
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeanette Beers
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jizhong Zou
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Minh Q Nguyen
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hans J Solinski
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Aisha A AlJanahi
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kory R Johnson
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alexander T Chesler
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Carsten G Bönnemann
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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14
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de Brito RN, Ludtke DD, de Oliveira BH, de Oliveira Galassi T, Fernandes PF, Van Den Berge S, Salgado ASI, Cidral-Filho FJ, Horewicz VV, Bobinski F, Martins DF. Balneotherapy decreases mechanical hyperalgesia by reversing BDNF and NOS2 immunocontent in spinal cord of mice with neuropathic pain. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 348:577360. [PMID: 32862113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, balneotherapy or thermalism has been used for health promotion and in the treatment of inflammatory and chronic processes. We found that balneotherapy reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, as well the increase of BDNF and NOS2 levels in the spinal cord, while increased BDNF and NOS1 in the paw. The data presented herein demonstrated for the first time in a murine model of neuropathic pain, the analgesic effect of balneotherapy with the water from the natural springs of Santo Amaro da Imperatriz-Brazil. Nevertheless, future clinical trials should be conducted to test the effectiveness of balneotherapy in neuropathic pain patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Nolasco de Brito
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Daniela D Ludtke
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Bruna Hoffmann de Oliveira
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Taynah de Oliveira Galassi
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Paula Franson Fernandes
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Sarah Van Den Berge
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Afonso Shiguemi Inoue Salgado
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Integrative Physical therapy Residency, Centro Universitário Filadélfia, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Francisco José Cidral-Filho
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Verônica Vargas Horewicz
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Franciane Bobinski
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Daniel Fernandes Martins
- Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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15
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Abstract
Primary nociceptors are a heterogeneous class of peripheral somatosensory neurons, responsible for detecting noxious, pruriceptive, and thermal stimuli. These neurons are further divided into several molecularly defined subtypes that correlate with their functional sensory modalities and morphological features. During development, all nociceptors arise from a common pool of embryonic precursors, and then segregate progressively into their mature specialized phenotypes. In this review, we summarize the intrinsic transcriptional programs and extrinsic trophic factor signaling mechanisms that interact to control nociceptor diversification. We also discuss how recent transcriptome profiling studies have significantly advanced the field of sensory neuron development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suna L Cranfill
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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16
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Vermeiren S, Bellefroid EJ, Desiderio S. Vertebrate Sensory Ganglia: Common and Divergent Features of the Transcriptional Programs Generating Their Functional Specialization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:587699. [PMID: 33195244 PMCID: PMC7649826 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.587699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory fibers of the peripheral nervous system carry sensation from specific sense structures or use different tissues and organs as receptive fields, and convey this information to the central nervous system. In the head of vertebrates, each cranial sensory ganglia and associated nerves perform specific functions. Sensory ganglia are composed of different types of specialized neurons in which two broad categories can be distinguished, somatosensory neurons relaying all sensations that are felt and visceral sensory neurons sensing the internal milieu and controlling body homeostasis. While in the trunk somatosensory neurons composing the dorsal root ganglia are derived exclusively from neural crest cells, somato- and visceral sensory neurons of cranial sensory ganglia have a dual origin, with contributions from both neural crest and placodes. As most studies on sensory neurogenesis have focused on dorsal root ganglia, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the embryonic development of the different cranial sensory ganglia remains today rudimentary. However, using single-cell RNA sequencing, recent studies have made significant advances in the characterization of the neuronal diversity of most sensory ganglia. Here we summarize the general anatomy, function and neuronal diversity of cranial sensory ganglia. We then provide an overview of our current knowledge of the transcriptional networks controlling neurogenesis and neuronal diversification in the developing sensory system, focusing on cranial sensory ganglia, highlighting specific aspects of their development and comparing it to that of trunk sensory ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Vermeiren
- ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Eric J Bellefroid
- ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Simon Desiderio
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, INSERM U1051, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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17
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Faure L, Wang Y, Kastriti ME, Fontanet P, Cheung KKY, Petitpré C, Wu H, Sun LL, Runge K, Croci L, Landy MA, Lai HC, Consalez GG, de Chevigny A, Lallemend F, Adameyko I, Hadjab S. Single cell RNA sequencing identifies early diversity of sensory neurons forming via bi-potential intermediates. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4175. [PMID: 32826903 PMCID: PMC7442800 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17929-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic sensation is defined by the existence of a diversity of primary sensory neurons with unique biological features and response profiles to external and internal stimuli. However, there is no coherent picture about how this diversity of cell states is transcriptionally generated. Here, we use deep single cell analysis to resolve fate splits and molecular biasing processes during sensory neurogenesis in mice. Our results identify a complex series of successive and specific transcriptional changes in post-mitotic neurons that delineate hierarchical regulatory states leading to the generation of the main sensory neuron classes. In addition, our analysis identifies previously undetected early gene modules expressed long before fate determination although being clearly associated with defined sensory subtypes. Overall, the early diversity of sensory neurons is generated through successive bi-potential intermediates in which synchronization of relevant gene modules and concurrent repression of competing fate programs precede cell fate stabilization and final commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Faure
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yiqiao Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Eleni Kastriti
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paula Fontanet
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kylie K Y Cheung
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charles Petitpré
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haohao Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lynn Linyu Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karen Runge
- INMED INSERM U1249, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Laura Croci
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Mark A Landy
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Helen C Lai
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | | | | | - François Lallemend
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ming-Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Stockholm node, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Saida Hadjab
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara Marshall
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Ardem Patapoutian
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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19
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Crawford LK, Caterina MJ. Functional Anatomy of the Sensory Nervous System: Updates From the Neuroscience Bench. Toxicol Pathol 2019; 48:174-189. [PMID: 31554486 DOI: 10.1177/0192623319869011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The simple tripartite classification of sensory neurons as A-beta, A-delta, and C fibers fails to convey the complexity of the neurons that encode stimuli as diverse as the texture of a surface, the location of a pinprick, or the direction of hair movement as a breeze moves across the skin. It has also proven to be inadequate when investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying pain, which can encompass any combination of chemical, tactile, and thermal modalities. Beginning with a brief overview of visceral and sensory neuroanatomy, this review expands upon sensory innervation of the skin as a prime example of the heterogeneity and complexity of the somatosensory nervous system. Neuroscientists have characterized defining features of over 15 subtypes of sensory neurons that innervate the skin of the mouse. This has enabled the study of cell-specific mechanisms of pain, which suggests that diverse sensory neuron subtypes may have distinct susceptibilities to toxic injury and different roles in pathologic mechanisms underlying altered sensation. Leveraging this growing body of knowledge for preclinical trials and models of neurotoxicity can vastly improve our understanding of peripheral nervous system dysfunction, advancing the fields of toxicologic pathology and neuropathology alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- LaTasha K Crawford
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, USA, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Michael J Caterina
- Neurosurgery Pain Research Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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20
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Is Optogenetic Activation of Vglut1-Positive Aβ Low-Threshold Mechanoreceptors Sufficient to Induce Tactile Allodynia in Mice after Nerve Injury? J Neurosci 2019; 39:6202-6215. [PMID: 31152125 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2064-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical allodynia is a cardinal feature of pathological pain. Recent work has demonstrated the necessity of Aβ-low-threshold mechanoreceptors (Aβ-LTMRs) for mechanical allodynia-like behaviors in mice, but it remains unclear whether these neurons are sufficient to produce pain under pathological conditions. We generated a transgenic mouse in which channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is conditionally expressed in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (Vglut1) sensory neurons (Vglut1-ChR2), which is a heterogeneous population of large-sized sensory neurons with features consistent with Aβ-LTMRs. In naive male Vglut1-ChR2 mice, transdermal hindpaw photostimulation evoked withdrawal behaviors in an intensity- and frequency-dependent manner, which were abolished by local anesthetic and selective A-fiber blockade. Surprisingly, male Vglut1-ChR2 mice did not show significant differences in light-evoked behaviors or real-time aversion after nerve injury despite marked hypersensitivity to punctate mechanical stimuli. We conclude that optogenetic activation of cutaneous Vglut1-ChR2 neurons alone is not sufficient to produce pain-like behaviors in neuropathic mice.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Mechanical allodynia, in which innocuous touch is perceived as pain, is a common feature of pathological pain. To test the contribution of low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) to nerve-injury-induced mechanical allodynia, we generated and characterized a new transgenic mouse (Vglut1-ChR2) to optogenetically activate cutaneous vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (Vglut1)-positive LTMRs. Using this mouse, we found that light-evoked behaviors were unchanged by nerve injury, which suggests that activation of Vglut1-positive LTMRs alone is not sufficient to produce pain. The Vglut1-ChR2 mouse will be broadly useful for the study of touch, pain, and itch.
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21
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Virtuoso A, Herrera-Rincon C, Papa M, Panetsos F. Dependence of Neuroprosthetic Stimulation on the Sensory Modality of the Trigeminal Neurons Following Nerve Injury. Implications in the Design of Future Sensory Neuroprostheses for Correct Perception and Modulation of Neuropathic Pain. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:389. [PMID: 31118880 PMCID: PMC6504809 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Amputation of a sensory peripheral nerve induces severe anatomical and functional changes along the afferent pathway as well as perception alterations and neuropathic pain. In previous studies we showed that electrical stimulation applied to a transected infraorbital nerve protects the somatosensory cortex from the above-mentioned sensory deprivation-related changes. In the present study we focus on the initial tract of the somatosensory pathway and we investigate the way weak electrical stimulation modulates the neuroprotective-neuroregenerative and functional processes of trigeminal ganglia primary sensory neurons by studying the expression of neurotrophins (NTFs) and Glia-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (GDNFs) receptors. Neurostimulation was applied to the proximal stump of a transected left infraorbitary nerve using a neuroprosthetic micro-device 12 h/day for 4 weeks in freely behaving rats. Neurons were studied by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry against RET (proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase "rearranged during transfection"), tropomyosin-related kinases (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC) receptors and IB4 (Isolectin B4 from Griffonia simplicifolia). Intra-group (left vs. right ganglia) and inter-group comparisons (between Control, Axotomization and Stimulation-after-axotomization groups) were performed using the mean percentage change of the number of positive cells per section [100∗(left-right)/right)]. Intra-group differences were studied by paired t-tests. For inter-group comparisons ANOVA test followed by post hoc LSD test (when P < 0.05) were used. Significance level (α) was set to 0.05 in all cases. Results showed that (i) neurostimulation has heterogeneous effects on primary nociceptive and mechanoceptive/proprioceptive neurons; (ii) neurostimulation affects RET-expressing small and large neurons which include thermo-nociceptors and mechanoceptors, as well as on the IB4- and TrkB-positive populations, which mainly correspond to non-peptidergic thermo-nociceptive cells and mechanoceptors respectively. Our results suggest (i) electrical stimulation differentially affects modality-specific primary sensory neurons (ii) artificial input mainly acts on specific nociceptive and mechanoceptive neurons (iii) neuroprosthetic stimulation could be used to modulate peripheral nerve injuries-induced neuropathic pain. These could have important functional implications in both, the design of effective clinical neurostimulation-based protocols and the development of neuroprosthetic devices, controlling primary sensory neurons through selective neurostimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Virtuoso
- Division of Human Anatomy – Neuronal Networks Morphology Lab, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Celia Herrera-Rincon
- Neuro-computing & Neuro-robotics Research Group, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital San Carlos de Madrid (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michele Papa
- Division of Human Anatomy – Neuronal Networks Morphology Lab, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Fivos Panetsos
- Neuro-computing & Neuro-robotics Research Group, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Hospital San Carlos de Madrid (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Silk Biomed, Madrid, Spain
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22
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A Role for Sensory end Organ-Derived Signals in Regulating Muscle Spindle Proprioceptor Phenotype. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4252-4267. [PMID: 30926747 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2671-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Proprioceptive feedback from Group Ia/II muscle spindle afferents and Group Ib Golgi tendon afferents is critical for the normal execution of most motor tasks, yet how these distinct proprioceptor subtypes emerge during development remains poorly understood. Using molecular genetic approaches in mice of either sex, we identified 24 transcripts that have not previously been associated with a proprioceptor identity. Combinatorial expression analyses of these markers reveal at least three molecularly distinct proprioceptor subtypes. In addition, we find that 12 of these transcripts are expressed well after proprioceptors innervate their respective sensory receptors, and expression of three of these markers, including the heart development molecule Heg1, is significantly reduced in mice that lack muscle spindles. These data reveal Heg1 as a putative marker for proprioceptive muscle spindle afferents. Moreover, they suggest that the phenotypic specialization of functionally distinct proprioceptor subtypes depends, in part, on extrinsic sensory receptor organ-derived signals.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory feedback from muscle spindle (MS) and Golgi tendon organ (GTO) sensory end organs is critical for normal motor control, but how distinct MS and GTO afferent sensory neurons emerge during development remains poorly understood. Using (bulk) transcriptome analysis of genetically identified proprioceptors, this work reveals molecular markers for distinct proprioceptor subsets, including some that appear selectively expressed in MS afferents. Detailed analysis of the expression of these transcripts provides evidence that MS/GTO afferent subtype phenotypes may, at least in part, emerge through extrinsic, sensory end organ-derived signals.
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23
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Development and validation of an in vitro model system to study peripheral sensory neuron development and injury. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15961. [PMID: 30374154 PMCID: PMC6206093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34280-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to discriminate between diverse types of sensation is mediated by heterogeneous populations of peripheral sensory neurons. Human peripheral sensory neurons are inaccessible for research and efforts to study their development and disease have been hampered by the availability of relevant model systems. The in vitro differentiation of peripheral sensory neurons from human embryonic stem cells therefore provides an attractive alternative since an unlimited source of biological material can be generated for studies that specifically address development and injury. The work presented in this study describes the derivation of peripheral sensory neurons from human embryonic stem cells using small molecule inhibitors. The differentiated neurons express canonical- and modality-specific peripheral sensory neuron markers with subsets exhibiting functional properties of human nociceptive neurons that include tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and repetitive action potentials. Moreover, the derived cells associate with human donor Schwann cells and can be used as a model system to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal death following peripheral nerve injury. The quick and efficient derivation of genetically diverse peripheral sensory neurons from human embryonic stem cells offers unlimited access to these specialised cell types and provides an invaluable in vitro model system for future studies.
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24
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Chen Z, Donnelly CR, Dominguez B, Harada Y, Lin W, Halim AS, Bengoechea TG, Pierchala BA, Lee KF. p75 Is Required for the Establishment of Postnatal Sensory Neuron Diversity by Potentiating Ret Signaling. Cell Rep 2018; 21:707-720. [PMID: 29045838 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Producing the neuronal diversity required to adequately discriminate all elements of somatosensation is a complex task during organogenesis. The mechanisms guiding this process during dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neuron specification remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the p75 neurotrophin receptor interacts with Ret and its GFRα co-receptor upon stimulation with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Furthermore, we demonstrate that p75 is required for GDNF-mediated Ret activation, survival, and cell surface localization of Ret in DRG neurons. In mice in which p75 is deleted specifically within sensory neurons beginning at E12.5, we observe that approximately 20% of neurons are lost between P14 and adulthood, and these losses selectively occur within a subpopulation of Ret+ nonpeptidergic nociceptors, with neurons expressing low levels of Ret impacted most heavily. These results suggest that p75 is required for the development of the nonpeptidergic nociceptor lineage by fine-tuning Ret-mediated trophic support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijiang Chen
- The Salk Institute, Peptide Biology Laboratories, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Christopher R Donnelly
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Bertha Dominguez
- The Salk Institute, Peptide Biology Laboratories, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yoshinobu Harada
- The Salk Institute, Peptide Biology Laboratories, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; National Institute of Radiological Sciences and National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 243-8555, Japan
| | - Weichun Lin
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Neuroscience, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alan S Halim
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Tasha G Bengoechea
- The Salk Institute, Peptide Biology Laboratories, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brian A Pierchala
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Kuo-Fen Lee
- The Salk Institute, Peptide Biology Laboratories, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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25
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Feito J, García-Suárez O, García-Piqueras J, García-Mesa Y, Pérez-Sánchez A, Suazo I, Cabo R, Suárez-Quintanilla J, Cobo J, Vega JA. The development of human digital Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles. Ann Anat 2018; 219:8-24. [PMID: 29842990 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles are cutaneous mechanoreceptors responsible for different modalities of touch. The development of these sensory formations in humans is poorly known, especially regarding the acquisition of the typical immunohistochemical profile related to their full functional maturity. Here we used a panel of antibodies (to specifically label the main corpuscular components: axon, Schwann-related cells and endoneurial-perineurial-related cells) to investigate the development of digital Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles in a representative sample covering from 11 weeks of estimated gestational age (wega) to adulthood. Development of Pacinian corpuscles starts at 13 wega, and it is completed at 4 months of life, although their basic structure and immunohistochemical characteristics are reached at 36 wega. During development, around the axon, a complex network of S100 positive Schwann-related processes is progressively compacted to form the inner core, while the surrounding mesenchyme is organized and forms the outer core and the capsule. Meissner's corpuscles start to develop at 22 wega and complete their typical morphology and immunohistochemical profile at 8 months of life. In developing Meissner's corpuscles, the axons establish complex relationships with the epidermis and are progressively covered by Schwann-like cells until they complete the mature arrangement late in postnatal life. The present results demonstrate an asynchronous development of the Meissner's and Pacini's corpuscles and show that there is not a total correlation between morphological and immunohistochemical maturation. The correlation of the present results with touch-induced cortical activity in developing humans is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Feito
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain; Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Salamanca, Spain
| | - O García-Suárez
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
| | - J García-Piqueras
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
| | - Y García-Mesa
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
| | - A Pérez-Sánchez
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Salamanca, Spain
| | - I Suazo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - R Cabo
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
| | - J Suárez-Quintanilla
- Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J Cobo
- Departamento de Cirugía y Especialidades Médico-Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain; Instituto Asturiano de Odontología, Oviedo, Spain
| | - J A Vega
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Grupo SINPOS, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile.
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26
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Control of mechanical pain hypersensitivity in mice through ligand-targeted photoablation of TrkB-positive sensory neurons. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1640. [PMID: 29691410 PMCID: PMC5915601 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04049-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical allodynia is a major symptom of neuropathic pain whereby innocuous touch evokes severe pain. Here we identify a population of peripheral sensory neurons expressing TrkB that are both necessary and sufficient for producing pain from light touch after nerve injury in mice. Mice in which TrkB-Cre-expressing neurons are ablated are less sensitive to the lightest touch under basal conditions, and fail to develop mechanical allodynia in a model of neuropathic pain. Moreover, selective optogenetic activation of these neurons after nerve injury evokes marked nociceptive behavior. Using a phototherapeutic approach based upon BDNF, the ligand for TrkB, we perform molecule-guided laser ablation of these neurons and achieve long-term retraction of TrkB-positive neurons from the skin and pronounced reversal of mechanical allodynia across multiple types of neuropathic pain. Thus we identify the peripheral neurons which transmit pain from light touch and uncover a novel pharmacological strategy for its treatment. There are several classes of sensory neuron that contribute to pain states. Here, the authors demonstrate that TrkB+ sensory neurons detect light touch under normal conditions in mice but contribute to hypersensitivity in models of chronic pain, and that ligand-guided laser ablation of TrkB+ sensory neurons in the mouse skin attenuates this hypersensitivity.
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Peng C, Furlan A, Zhang MD, Su J, Lübke M, Lönnerberg P, Abdo H, Sontheimer J, Sundström E, Ernfors P. Termination of cell-type specification gene programs by miR-183 cluster determines the population sizes of low threshold mechanosensitive neurons. Development 2018; 145:dev.165613. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.165613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Touch and mechanical sensations require the development of several different kinds of sensory neurons dedicated to respond to certain types of mechanical stimuli. The transcription factor Shox2 (short stature homeobox 2) is involved in the generation of TRKB+ low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), but mechanisms terminating this program and allowing for alternative fates are unknown. Here, we show that the conditional loss of miR-183-96-182 cluster leads to a failure of extinction of Shox2 during development and an increase in the proportion of Aδ LTMRs (TRKB+/NECAB2+) neurons at the expense of Aβ slowly adapting (SA)-LTMRs (TRKC+/Runx3−) neurons. Conversely, overexpression of miR-183 cluster that represses Shox2 expression, or loss of Shox2, both increases the Aβ SA-LTMRs population at expense of Aδ LTMRs. Our results suggest that the miR-183 cluster determines the timing of Shox2 expression by direct targeting during development, and through this determines the population sizes of Aδ LTMRs and Aβ SA-LTMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changgeng Peng
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200029 Shanghai, China
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ming-Dong Zhang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jie Su
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Moritz Lübke
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Lönnerberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hind Abdo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana Sontheimer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Sundström
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. Karolinska Institutet, 171777 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ernfors
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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Biphasic functions for the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway in chemosensory neuron development and diversification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 115:E516-E525. [PMID: 29282324 PMCID: PMC5776963 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1708838115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
While knowledge of signaling mechanisms orchestrating the development and diversification of peripheral somatosensory neurons is extensive, our understanding of the mechanisms controlling chemosensory neuron specification remains rudimentary. Lingually projecting sensory neurons of the geniculate ganglion are receptive to the five taste qualities, as well as temperature and tactile stimuli, but the mechanisms responsible for the diversification of the unique subpopulations that respond to one, or several, of these stimuli remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway exerts a unique, dual function in peripheral taste system development and postnatal function. Ret acts embryonically to regulate the expression of the chemosensory master regulator Phox2b, thus inducing chemosensory differentiation, while postnatally acting to specify a molecularly unique subpopulation of lingual mechanoreceptors. The development of the taste system relies on the coordinated regulation of cues that direct the simultaneous development of both peripheral taste organs and innervating sensory ganglia, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel, biphasic function for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the development and subsequent diversification of chemosensory neurons within the geniculate ganglion (GG). GDNF, acting through the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret, regulates the expression of the chemosensory fate determinant Phox2b early in GG development. Ret−/− mice, but not Retfx/fx; Phox2b-Cre mice, display a profound loss of Phox2b expression with subsequent chemosensory innervation deficits, indicating that Ret is required for the initial amplification of Phox2b expression but not its maintenance. Ret expression is extinguished perinatally but reemerges postnatally in a subpopulation of large-diameter GG neurons expressing the mechanoreceptor marker NF200 and the GDNF coreceptor GFRα1. Intriguingly, we observed that ablation of these neurons in adult Ret-Cre/ERT2; Rosa26LSL-DTA mice caused a specific loss of tactile, but not chemical or thermal, electrophysiological responses. Overall, the GDNF-Ret pathway exerts two critical and distinct functions in the peripheral taste system: embryonic chemosensory cell fate determination and the specification of lingual mechanoreceptors.
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Abstract
The sensation of touch is mediated by mechanosensory neurons that are embedded in skin and relay signals from the periphery to the central nervous system. During embryogenesis, axons elongate from these neurons to make contact with the developing skin. Concurrently, the epithelium of skin transforms from a homogeneous tissue into a heterogeneous organ that is made up of distinct layers and microdomains. Throughout this process, each neuronal terminal must form connections with an appropriate skin region to serve its function. This Review presents current knowledge of the development of the sensory microdomains in mammalian skin and the mechanosensory neurons that innervate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair A Jenkins
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics and Department of Dermatology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ellen A Lumpkin
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics and Department of Dermatology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Abstract
The exteroceptive somatosensory system is important for reflexive and adaptive behaviors and for the dynamic control of movement in response to external stimuli. This review outlines recent efforts using genetic approaches in the mouse to map the spinal cord circuits that transmit and gate the cutaneous somatosensory modalities of touch, pain, and itch. Recent studies have revealed an underlying modular architecture in which nociceptive, pruritic, and innocuous stimuli are processed by distinct molecularly defined interneuron cell types. These include excitatory populations that transmit information about both innocuous and painful touch and inhibitory populations that serve as a gate to prevent innocuous stimuli from activating the nociceptive and pruritic transmission pathways. By dissecting the cellular composition of dorsal-horn networks, studies are beginning to elucidate the intricate computational logic of somatosensory transformation in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Koch
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
| | - David Acton
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
| | - Martyn Goulding
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
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A RET-ER81-NRG1 Signaling Pathway Drives the Development of Pacinian Corpuscles. J Neurosci 2017; 36:10337-10355. [PMID: 27707970 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2160-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Axon-Schwann cell interactions are crucial for the development, function, and repair of the peripheral nervous system, but mechanisms underlying communication between axons and nonmyelinating Schwann cells are unclear. Here, we show that ER81 is functionally required in a subset of mouse RET+ mechanosensory neurons for formation of Pacinian corpuscles, which are composed of a single myelinated axon and multiple layers of nonmyelinating Schwann cells, and Ret is required for the maintenance of Er81 expression. Interestingly, Er81 mutants have normal myelination but exhibit deficient interactions between axons and corpuscle-forming nonmyelinating Schwann cells. Finally, ablating Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) in mechanosensory neurons results in no Pacinian corpuscles, and an Nrg1 isoform not required for communication with myelinating Schwann cells is specifically decreased in Er81-null somatosensory neurons. Collectively, our results suggest that a RET-ER81-NRG1 signaling pathway promotes axon communication with nonmyelinating Schwann cells, and that neurons use distinct mechanisms to interact with different types of Schwann cells. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Communication between neurons and Schwann cells is critical for development, normal function, and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system. Despite many studies about axonal communication with myelinating Schwann cells, mostly via a specific isoform of Neuregulin1, the molecular nature of axonal communication with nonmyelinating Schwann cells is poorly understood. Here, we described a RET-ER81-Neuregulin1 signaling pathway in neurons innervating Pacinian corpuscle somatosensory end organs, which is essential for communication between the innervating axon and the end organ nonmyelinating Schwann cells. We also showed that this signaling pathway uses isoforms of Neuregulin1 that are not involved in myelination, providing evidence that neurons use different isoforms of Neuregulin1 to interact with different types of Schwann cells.
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Bernal Sierra YA, Haseleu J, Kozlenkov A, Bégay V, Lewin GR. Genetic Tracing of Ca v3.2 T-Type Calcium Channel Expression in the Peripheral Nervous System. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:70. [PMID: 28360836 PMCID: PMC5350092 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the distinct functions of the T-type ion channel subunits Cav3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 has proven difficult due to their highly conserved amino-acid sequences and the lack of pharmacological blockers specific for each subunit. To precisely determine the expression pattern of the Cav3.2 channel in the nervous system we generated two knock-in mouse strains that express EGFP or Cre recombinase under the control of the Cav3.2 gene promoter. We show that in the brains of these animals, the Cav3.2 channel is predominantly expressed in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. In the peripheral nervous system, the activation of the promoter starts at E9.5 in neural crest cells that will give rise to dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, but not sympathetic neurons. As development progresses the number of DRG cells expressing the Cav3.2 channel reaches around 7% of the DRG at E16.5, and remains constant until E18.5. Characterization of sensory neuron subpopulations at E18.5 showed that EGFP+ cells are a heterogeneous population consisting mainly of TrkB+ and TrkC+ cells, while only a small percentage of DRG cells were TrkA+. Genetic tracing of the sensory nerve end-organ innervation of the skin showed that the activity of the Cav3.2 channel promoter in sensory progenitors marks many mechanoreceptor and nociceptor endings, but spares slowly adapting mechanoreceptors with endings associated with Merkel cells. Our genetic analysis reveals for the first time that progenitors that express the Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel, defines a sensory specific lineage that populates a large proportion of the DRG. Using our Cav3.2-Cre mice together with AAV viruses containing a conditional fluorescent reporter (tdTomato) we could also show that Cre expression is largely restricted to two functionally distinct sensory neuron types in the adult ganglia. Cav3.2 positive neurons innervating the skin were found to only form lanceolate endings on hair follicles and are probably identical to D-hair receptors. A second population of nociceptive sensory neurons expressing the Cav3.2 gene was found to be positive for the calcitonin-gene related peptide but these neurons are deep tissue nociceptors that do not innervate the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinth A Bernal Sierra
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Haseleu
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexey Kozlenkov
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Bégay
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Gary R Lewin
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
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Mackenzie AE, Milligan G. The emerging pharmacology and function of GPR35 in the nervous system. Neuropharmacology 2017; 113:661-671. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Arcourt A, Gorham L, Dhandapani R, Prato V, Taberner FJ, Wende H, Gangadharan V, Birchmeier C, Heppenstall PA, Lechner SG. Touch Receptor-Derived Sensory Information Alleviates Acute Pain Signaling and Fine-Tunes Nociceptive Reflex Coordination. Neuron 2016; 93:179-193. [PMID: 27989460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Painful mechanical stimuli activate multiple peripheral sensory afferent subtypes simultaneously, including nociceptors and low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs). Using an optogenetic approach, we demonstrate that LTMRs do not solely serve as touch receptors but also play an important role in acute pain signaling. We show that selective activation of neuropeptide Y receptor-2-expressing (Npy2r) myelinated A-fiber nociceptors evokes abnormally exacerbated pain, which is alleviated by concurrent activation of LTMRs in a frequency-dependent manner. We further show that spatial summation of single action potentials from multiple NPY2R-positive afferents is sufficient to trigger nocifensive paw withdrawal, but additional simultaneous sensory input from LTMRs is required for normal well-coordinated execution of this reflex. Thus, our results show that combinatorial coding of noxious and tactile sensory input is required for normal acute mechanical pain signaling. Additionally, we established a causal link between precisely defined neural activity in functionally identified sensory neuron subpopulations and nocifensive behavior and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Arcourt
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Louise Gorham
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Vincenzo Prato
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francisco J Taberner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hagen Wende
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Max-Delbrueck-Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vijayan Gangadharan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Birchmeier
- Max-Delbrueck-Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Stefan G Lechner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Merkel Cell-Driven BDNF Signaling Specifies SAI Neuron Molecular and Electrophysiological Phenotypes. J Neurosci 2016; 36:4362-76. [PMID: 27076431 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3781-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The extent to which the skin instructs peripheral somatosensory neuron maturation is unknown. We studied this question in Merkel cell-neurite complexes, where slowly adapting type I (SAI) neurons innervate skin-derived Merkel cells. Transgenic mice lacking Merkel cells had normal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron numbers, but fewer DRG neurons expressed the SAI markers TrkB, TrkC, and Ret. Merkel cell ablation also decreased downstream TrkB signaling in DRGs, and altered the expression of genes associated with SAI development and function. Skin- and Merkel cell-specific deletion of Bdnf during embryogenesis, but not postnatal Bdnf deletion or Ntf3 deletion, reproduced these results. Furthermore, prototypical SAI electrophysiological signatures were absent from skin regions where Bdnf was deleted in embryonic Merkel cells. We conclude that BDNF produced by Merkel cells during a precise embryonic period guides SAI neuron development, providing the first direct evidence that the skin instructs sensory neuron molecular and functional maturation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Peripheral sensory neurons show incredible phenotypic and functional diversity that is initiated early by cell-autonomous and local environmental factors found within the DRG. However, the contribution of target tissues to subsequent sensory neuron development remains unknown. We show that Merkel cells are required for the molecular and functional maturation of the SAI neurons that innervate them. We also show that this process is controlled by BDNF signaling. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of somatosensory neuron development and reveal a novel way in which Merkel cells participate in mechanosensation.
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Gabreski NA, Vaghasia JK, Novakova SS, McDonald NQ, Pierchala BA. Exon Skipping in the RET Gene Encodes Novel Isoforms That Differentially Regulate RET Protein Signal Transduction. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:16249-62. [PMID: 27226544 PMCID: PMC4965573 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.709675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET), a receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family ligands (GFLs), plays a crucial role in the development and function of the nervous system and additionally is required for kidney development and spermatogenesis. RET encodes a transmembrane receptor that is 20 exons long and produces two known protein isoforms differing in C-terminal amino acid composition, referred to as RET9 and RET51. Studies of human pheochromocytomas identified two additional novel transcripts involving the skipping of exon 3 or exons 3, 4, and 5 and are referred to as RET(Δ) (E3) and RET(Δ) (E345), respectively. Here we report the presence of Ret(Δ) (E3) and Ret(Δ) (E345) in zebrafish, mice, and rats and show that these transcripts are dynamically expressed throughout development of the CNS, peripheral nervous system, and kidneys. We further explore the biochemical properties of these isoforms, demonstrating that, like full-length RET, RET(ΔE3) and RET(ΔE345) are trafficked to the cell surface, interact with all four GFRα co-receptors, and have the ability to heterodimerize with full-length RET. Signaling experiments indicate that RET(ΔE3) is phosphorylated in a similar manner to full-length RET. RET(ΔE345), in contrast, displays higher baseline autophosphorylation, specifically on the catalytic tyrosine, Tyr(905), and also on one of the most important signaling residues, Tyr(1062) These data provide the first evidence for a physiologic role of these isoforms in RET pathway function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Gabreski
- From the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, the Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Janki K Vaghasia
- From the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Silvia S Novakova
- From the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Neil Q McDonald
- the Structural Biology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, United Kingdom, and the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
| | - Brian A Pierchala
- From the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, the Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
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Olson W, Dong P, Fleming M, Luo W. The specification and wiring of mammalian cutaneous low-threshold mechanoreceptors. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2016; 5:389-404. [PMID: 26992078 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian cutaneous low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) are a diverse set of primary somatosensory neurons that function to sense external mechanical force. Generally, LTMRs are composed of Aβ-LTMRs, Aδ-LTMRs, and C-LTMRs, which have distinct molecular, physiological, anatomical, and functional features. The specification and wiring of each type of mammalian cutaneous LTMRs is established during development by the interplay of transcription factors with trophic factor signalling. In this review, we summarize the cohort of extrinsic and intrinsic factors generating the complex mammalian cutaneous LTMR circuits that mediate our tactile sensations and behaviors. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Olson
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter Dong
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Fleming
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Stantcheva KK, Iovino L, Dhandapani R, Martinez C, Castaldi L, Nocchi L, Perlas E, Portulano C, Pesaresi M, Shirlekar KS, de Castro Reis F, Paparountas T, Bilbao D, Heppenstall PA. A subpopulation of itch-sensing neurons marked by Ret and somatostatin expression. EMBO Rep 2016; 17:585-600. [PMID: 26929027 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201540983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Itch, the unpleasant sensation that elicits a desire to scratch, is mediated by specific subtypes of cutaneous sensory neuron. Here, we identify a subpopulation of itch-sensing neurons based on their expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. We apply flow cytometry to isolate Ret-positive neurons from dorsal root ganglia and detected a distinct population marked by low levels of Ret and absence of isolectin B4 binding. We determine the transcriptional profile of these neurons and demonstrate that they express neuropeptides such as somatostatin (Sst), the NGF receptor TrkA, and multiple transcripts associated with itch. We validate the selective expression of Sst using an Sst-Cre driver line and ablated these neurons by generating mice in which the diphtheria toxin receptor is conditionally expressed from the sensory neuron-specific Avil locus. Sst-Cre::Avil(iDTR) mice display normal nociceptive responses to thermal and mechanical stimuli. However, scratching behavior evoked by interleukin-31 (IL-31) or agonist at the 5HT1F receptor is significantly reduced. Our data provide a molecular signature for a subpopulation of neurons activated by multiple pruritogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Loredana Iovino
- EMBL Mouse Biology Unit, Monterotondo, Italy Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul A Heppenstall
- EMBL Mouse Biology Unit, Monterotondo, Italy Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
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Schütze S, Orozco IJ, Jentsch TJ. KCNQ Potassium Channels Modulate Sensitivity of Skin Down-hair (D-hair) Mechanoreceptors. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:5566-5575. [PMID: 26733196 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.681098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
M-current-mediating KCNQ (Kv7) channels play an important role in regulating the excitability of neuronal cells, as highlighted by mutations in Kcnq2 and Kcnq3 that underlie certain forms of epilepsy. In addition to their expression in brain, KCNQ2 and -3 are also found in the somatosensory system. We have now detected both KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 in a subset of dorsal root ganglia neurons that correspond to D-hair Aδ-fibers and demonstrate KCNQ3 expression in peripheral nerve endings of cutaneous D-hair follicles. Electrophysiological recordings from single D-hair afferents from Kcnq3(-/-) mice showed increased firing frequencies in response to mechanical ramp-and-hold stimuli. This effect was particularly pronounced at slow indentation velocities. Additional reduction of KCNQ2 expression further increased D-hair sensitivity. Together with previous work on the specific role of KCNQ4 in rapidly adapting skin mechanoreceptors, our results show that different KCNQ isoforms are specifically expressed in particular subsets of mechanosensory neurons and modulate their sensitivity directly in sensory nerve endings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schütze
- From the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin and
| | - Ian J Orozco
- From the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin and
| | - Thomas J Jentsch
- From the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin and; Neurocure Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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40
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Abstract
UNLABELLED The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptor, the fourth member of the opioid receptor family, is involved in many processes common to the opioid receptors including pain and drug abuse. To better characterize receptor location and trafficking, knock-in mice were created by inserting the gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) into the NOP receptor gene (Oprl1) and producing mice expressing a functional NOP-eGFP C-terminal fusion in place of the native NOP receptor. The NOP-eGFP receptor was present in brain of homozygous knock-in animals in concentrations somewhat higher than in wild-type mice and was functional when tested for stimulation of [(35)S]GTPγS binding in vitro and in patch-clamp electrophysiology in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and hippocampal slices. Inhibition of morphine analgesia was equivalent when tested in knock-in and wild-type mice. Imaging revealed detailed neuroanatomy in brain, spinal cord, and DRG and was generally consistent with in vitro autoradiographic imaging of receptor location. Multicolor immunohistochemistry identified cells coexpressing various spinal cord and DRG cellular markers, as well as coexpression with μ-opioid receptors in DRG and brain regions. Both in tissue slices and primary cultures, the NOP-eGFP receptors appear throughout the cell body and in processes. These knock-in mice have NOP receptors that function both in vitro and in vivo and appear to be an exceptional tool to study receptor neuroanatomy and correlate with NOP receptor function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The NOP receptor, the fourth member of the opioid receptor family, is involved in pain, drug abuse, and a number of other CNS processes. The regional and cellular distribution has been difficult to determine due to lack of validated antibodies for immunohistochemical analysis. To provide a new tool for the investigation of receptor localization, we have produced knock-in mice with a fluorescent-tagged NOP receptor in place of the native NOP receptor. These knock-in mice have NOP receptors that function both in vitro and in vivo and have provided a detailed characterization of NOP receptors in brain, spinal cord, and DRG neurons. They appear to be an exceptional tool to study receptor neuroanatomy and correlate with NOP receptor function.
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Zeb family members and boundary cap cells underlie developmental plasticity of sensory nociceptive neurons. Dev Cell 2015; 33:343-50. [PMID: 25942625 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons arise from heterogeneous precursors that differentiate in two neurogenic waves, respectively controlled by Neurog2 and Neurog1. We show here that transgenic mice expressing a Zeb1/2 dominant-negative form (DBZEB) exhibit reduced numbers of nociceptors and altered pain sensitivity. This reflects an early impairment of Neurog1-dependent neurogenesis due to the depletion of specific sensory precursor pools, which is slightly later partially compensated by the contribution of boundary cap cells (BCCs). Indeed, combined DBZEB expression and genetic BCCs ablation entirely deplete second wave precursors and, in turn, nociceptors, thus recapitulating the Neurog1(-/-) neuronal phenotype. Altogether, our results uncover roles for Zeb family members in the developing DRGs; they show that the Neurog1-dependent sensory neurogenesis can be functionally partitioned in two successive phases; and finally, they illustrate plasticity in the developing peripheral somatosensory system supported by the BCCs, thereby providing a rationale for sensory precursor diversity.
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Merighi A. Targeting the glial-derived neurotrophic factor and related molecules for controlling normal and pathologic pain. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2015; 20:193-208. [PMID: 26863504 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2016.1085972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its family of ligands (GFLs) have several functions in the nervous system. As a survival factor for dopaminergic neurons, GDNF was used in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease. GFLs and their receptors are also potential targets for new pain-controlling drugs. Although molecules with analgesic activities in rodents mostly failed to be effective in translational studies, this potential should not be underestimated. AREAS COVERED The circuitry, molecular, and cellular mechanisms by which GFLs control nociception and their intervention in inflammatory and neuropathic pain are considered first. The problems related to effective GDNF delivery to the brain and the possibility to target the GFL receptor complex rather than its ligands are then discussed, also considering the use of non-peptidyl agonists. EXPERT OPINION In nociceptive pathways, an ideal drug should either: i) target the release of endogenous GFLs from large dense-cored vesicles (LGVs) by acting, for example, onto the phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] pool, which is sensitive to Ca(2+) modulation, or ii) target the GFL receptor complex. Besides XIB403, a tiol molecule that enhances GFRα family receptor signaling, existing drugs such as retinoic acid and amitriptyline should be considered for effective targeting of GDNF, at least in neuropathic pain. The approach of pain modeling in experimental animals is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adalberto Merighi
- a University of Turin, Department of Veterinary Sciences , Grugliasco, TO, Italy ;
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Presynaptic modulation of spinal nociceptive transmission by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). J Neurosci 2015; 34:13819-33. [PMID: 25297108 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0808-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in nociceptive pathways is still controversial, as both pronociceptive and antinociceptive actions have been reported. To elucidate this role in the mouse, we performed combined structural and functional studies in vivo and in acute spinal cord slices where C-fiber activation was mimicked by capsaicin challenge. Nociceptors and their terminals in superficial dorsal horn (SDH; laminae I-II) constitute two separate subpopulations: the peptidergic CGRP/somatostatin+ cells expressing GDNF and the nonpeptidergic IB4+ neurons expressing the GFRα1-RET GDNF receptor complex. Ultrastructurally the dorsal part of inner lamina II (LIIid) harbors a mix of glomeruli that either display GDNF/somatostatin (GIb)-IR or GFRα1/IB4 labeling (GIa). LIIid thus represents the preferential site for ligand-receptor interactions. Functionally, endogenous GDNF released from peptidergic CGRP/somatostatin+ nociceptors upon capsaicin stimulation exert a tonic inhibitory control on the glutamate excitatory drive of SDH neurons as measured after ERK1/2 phosphorylation assay. Real-time Ca(2+) imaging and patch-clamp experiments with bath-applied GDNF (100 nM) confirm the presynaptic inhibition of SDH neurons after stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive, nociceptive primary afferent fibers. Accordingly, the reduction of the capsaicin-evoked [Ca(2+)]i rise and of the frequency of mEPSCs in SDH neurons is specifically abolished after enzymatic ablation of GFRα1. Therefore, GDNF released from peptidergic CGRP/somatostatin+ nociceptors acutely depresses neuronal transmission in SDH signaling to nonpeptidergic IB4+ nociceptors at glomeruli in LIIid. These observations are of potential pharmacological interest as they highlight a novel modality of cross talk between nociceptors that may be relevant for discrimination of pain modalities.
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Walsh CM, Bautista DM, Lumpkin EA. Mammalian touch catches up. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 34:133-9. [PMID: 26100741 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An assortment of touch receptors innervate the skin and encode different tactile features of the environment. Compared with invertebrate touch and other sensory systems, our understanding of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of mammalian touch lags behind. Two recent breakthroughs have accelerated progress. First, an arsenal of cell-type-specific molecular markers allowed the functional and anatomical properties of sensory neurons to be matched, thereby unraveling a cellular code for touch. Such markers have also revealed key roles of non-neuronal cell types, such as Merkel cells and keratinocytes, in touch reception. Second, the discovery of Piezo genes as a new family of mechanically activated channels has fueled the discovery of molecular mechanisms that mediate and mechanotransduction in mammalian touch receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M Walsh
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Diana M Bautista
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
| | - Ellen A Lumpkin
- Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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45
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Fleming MS, Vysochan A, Paixão S, Niu J, Klein R, Savitt JM, Luo W. Cis and trans RET signaling control the survival and central projection growth of rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors. eLife 2015; 4:e06828. [PMID: 25838128 PMCID: PMC4408446 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
RET can be activated in cis or trans by its co-receptors and ligands in vitro, but the physiological roles of trans signaling are unclear. Rapidly adapting (RA) mechanoreceptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) express Ret and the co-receptor Gfrα2 and depend on Ret for survival and central projection growth. Here, we show that Ret and Gfrα2 null mice display comparable early central projection deficits, but Gfrα2 null RA mechanoreceptors recover later. Loss of Gfrα1, the co-receptor implicated in activating RET in trans, causes no significant central projection or cell survival deficit, but Gfrα1;Gfrα2 double nulls phenocopy Ret nulls. Finally, we demonstrate that GFRα1 produced by neighboring DRG neurons activates RET in RA mechanoreceptors. Taken together, our results suggest that trans and cis RET signaling could function in the same developmental process and that the availability of both forms of activation likely enhances but not diversifies outcomes of RET signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Fleming
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Anna Vysochan
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Sόnia Paixão
- Molecules - Signals - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jingwen Niu
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Molecules - Signals - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Joseph M Savitt
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center of Maryland, Elkridge, United States
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
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Soba P, Han C, Zheng Y, Perea D, Miguel-Aliaga I, Jan LY, Jan YN. The Ret receptor regulates sensory neuron dendrite growth and integrin mediated adhesion. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 25764303 PMCID: PMC4391025 DOI: 10.7554/elife.05491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons develop highly stereotyped receptive fields by coordinated growth of their dendrites. Although cell surface cues play a major role in this process, few dendrite specific signals have been identified to date. We conducted an in vivo RNAi screen in Drosophila class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons and identified the conserved Ret receptor, known to play a role in axon guidance, as an important regulator of dendrite development. The loss of Ret results in severe dendrite defects due to loss of extracellular matrix adhesion, thus impairing growth within a 2D plane. We provide evidence that Ret interacts with integrins to regulate dendrite adhesion via rac1. In addition, Ret is required for dendrite stability and normal F-actin distribution suggesting it has an essential role in dendrite maintenance. We propose novel functions for Ret as a regulator in dendrite patterning and adhesion distinct from its role in axon guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Soba
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chun Han
- Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Daniel Perea
- Gut Signalling and Metabolism Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Miguel-Aliaga
- Gut Signalling and Metabolism Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Yeh Jan
- Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Yuh Nung Jan
- Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
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Reynders A, Mantilleri A, Malapert P, Rialle S, Nidelet S, Laffray S, Beurrier C, Bourinet E, Moqrich A. Transcriptional Profiling of Cutaneous MRGPRD Free Nerve Endings and C-LTMRs. Cell Rep 2015; 10:1007-1019. [PMID: 25683706 PMCID: PMC4542317 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Revised: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous C-unmyelinated MRGPRD+ free nerve endings and C-LTMRs innervating hair follicles convey two opposite aspects of touch sensation: a sensation of pain and a sensation of pleasant touch. The molecular mechanisms underlying these diametrically opposite functions are unknown. Here, we used a mouse model that genetically marks C-LTMRs and MRGPRD+ neurons in combination with fluorescent cell surface labeling, flow cytometry, and RNA deep-sequencing technology (RNA-seq). Cluster analysis of RNA-seq profiles of the purified neuronal subsets revealed 486 and 549 genes differentially expressed in MRGPRD-expressing neurons and C-LTMRs, respectively. We validated 48 MRGPD- and 68 C-LTMRs-enriched genes using a triple-staining approach, and the Cav3.3 channel, found to be exclusively expressed in C-LTMRs, was validated using electrophysiology. Our study greatly expands the molecular characterization of C-LTMRs and suggests that this particular population of neurons shares some molecular features with Aβ and Aδ low-threshold mechanoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Reynders
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Annabelle Mantilleri
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Pascale Malapert
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Stéphanie Rialle
- Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, UMR 5203, CNRS, U1191, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
| | - Sabine Nidelet
- Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, UMR 5203, CNRS, U1191, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
| | - Sophie Laffray
- Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, UMR 5203, CNRS, U1191, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
| | - Corinne Beurrier
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Emmanuel Bourinet
- Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, UMR 5203, CNRS, U1191, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
| | - Aziz Moqrich
- Aix-Marseille-Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR 7288, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
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48
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Schrenk-Siemens K, Wende H, Prato V, Song K, Rostock C, Loewer A, Utikal J, Lewin GR, Lechner SG, Siemens J. PIEZO2 is required for mechanotransduction in human stem cell–derived touch receptors. Nat Neurosci 2014; 18:10-6. [DOI: 10.1038/nn.3894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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49
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Veenvliet JV, Smidt MP. Molecular mechanisms of dopaminergic subset specification: fundamental aspects and clinical perspectives. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:4703-27. [PMID: 25064061 PMCID: PMC11113784 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1681-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral mesodiencephalon control locomotion and emotion and are affected in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). A clinical hallmark of PD is the specific degeneration of DA neurons located within the substantia nigra (SNc), whereas neurons in the ventral tegmental area remain unaffected. Recent advances have highlighted that the selective vulnerability of the SNc may originate in subset-specific molecular programming during DA neuron development, and significantly increased our understanding of the molecular code that drives specific SNc development. We here present an up-to-date overview of molecular mechanisms that direct DA subset specification, integrating our current knowledge about subset-specific roles of transcription factors, signaling pathways and morphogenes. We discuss strategies to further unravel subset-specific gene-regulatory networks, and the clinical promise of fundamental knowledge about subset specification of DA neurons, with regards to cell replacement therapy and cell-type-specific vulnerability in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse V. Veenvliet
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marten P. Smidt
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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50
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Usoskin D, Furlan A, Islam S, Abdo H, Lönnerberg P, Lou D, Hjerling-Leffler J, Haeggström J, Kharchenko O, Kharchenko PV, Linnarsson S, Ernfors P. Unbiased classification of sensory neuron types by large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing. Nat Neurosci 2014; 18:145-53. [PMID: 25420068 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1359] [Impact Index Per Article: 135.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The primary sensory system requires the integrated function of multiple cell types, although its full complexity remains unclear. We used comprehensive transcriptome analysis of 622 single mouse neurons to classify them in an unbiased manner, independent of any a priori knowledge of sensory subtypes. Our results reveal eleven types: three distinct low-threshold mechanoreceptive neurons, two proprioceptive, and six principal types of thermosensitive, itch sensitive, type C low-threshold mechanosensitive and nociceptive neurons with markedly different molecular and operational properties. Confirming previously anticipated major neuronal types, our results also classify and provide markers for new, functionally distinct subtypes. For example, our results suggest that itching during inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis is linked to a distinct itch-generating type. We demonstrate single-cell RNA-seq as an effective strategy for dissecting sensory responsive cells into distinct neuronal types. The resulting catalog illustrates the diversity of sensory types and the cellular complexity underlying somatic sensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Usoskin
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Saiful Islam
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hind Abdo
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Lönnerberg
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daohua Lou
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Hjerling-Leffler
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesper Haeggström
- Division of Physiological Chemistry, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olga Kharchenko
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter V Kharchenko
- 1] Center for Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ernfors
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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