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Wilson K, Sze Y, Regan A, Zhu C, Mazur K, Velichkova AN, Torsney C. Postsurgical tactile-evoked pain: a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase B-dependent novel tactile corpuscles. Pain Rep 2024; 9:e1169. [PMID: 39139363 PMCID: PMC11319325 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Millions of people undergo surgical procedures each year with many developing postsurgical pain. Dynamic allodynia can arise when, for example, clothing brushing close to the surgical site elicits pain. The allodynia circuits that enable crosstalk between afferent tactile inputs and central pain circuits have been studied, but the peripheral tactile drive has not been explored. Objective Investigate the innervation of the skin in the rat plantar hindpaw skin-muscle incision model. Results Incision increased epidermal thickness and cell layers and reduced intraepidermal nerve fibre density, identified with PGP9.5 immunostaining. Strikingly, Collagen IV immunostaining revealed the development of dermal protrusions, oriented towards the incision site, that were reminiscent of the dermal papillae that exist in glabrous footpads. S100 immunostaining for lamellar Schwann cells revealed the presence of novel tactile corpuscles (S100-positive bulb) within incision-induced putative dermal papillae. The occurrence of these novel tactile corpuscles coincided with behavioural observations of dynamic allodynia. Tactile corpuscles require brain-derived neurotrophic factor- tropomyosin receptor kinase B (BDNF-TrkB) signalling to form during development, and an increase in BDNF-immunostaining intensity was observed close to the incision site. Local acute administration of TrkB-Fc, to block BDNF-TrkB signalling, reduced, by approximately 50%, both tactile corpuscle size (S100+ bulb area) and dynamic allodynia. Conclusion Surgery induces the development of novel tactile corpuscles in the incision surround, in a BDNF-TrKB-dependent manner, that contributes to postsurgical tactile-evoked pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Wilson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ying Sze
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Regan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Chunyi Zhu
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Mazur
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Atanaska N. Velichkova
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Carole Torsney
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Wilson is now with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Velichkova is now with the Charles River Laboratories, Groningen, Netherlands
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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2
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Turecek J, Ginty DD. Coding of self and environment by Pacinian neurons in freely moving animals. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00530-0. [PMID: 39116877 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.008] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Pacinian corpuscle neurons are specialized low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) that are tuned to detect high-frequency vibration (∼50-2,000 Hz); however, it is unclear how Pacinians and other LTMRs encode mechanical forces encountered during naturalistic behavior. Here, we developed methods to record LTMRs in awake, freely moving mice. We find that Pacinians, but not other LTMRs, encode subtle vibrations of surfaces encountered by the animal, including low-amplitude vibrations initiated over 2 m away. Strikingly, Pacinians are also highly active during a wide variety of natural behaviors, including walking, grooming, digging, and climbing. Pacinians in the hindlimb are sensitive enough to be activated by forelimb- or upper-body-dominant behaviors. Finally, we find that Pacinian LTMRs have diverse tuning and sensitivity. Our findings suggest a Pacinian population code for the representation of vibro-tactile features generated by self-initiated movements and low-amplitude environmental vibrations emanating from distant locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Turecek
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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3
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Murakami Y, Sasaki K, Komuro M, Yokoyama T, Abdali SS, Nakamuta N, Yamamoto Y. Three-Dimensional Ultrastructure of Flower-Spray Nerve Endings in the Rat Carotid Sinus. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25654. [PMID: 38980116 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The flower-spray nerve endings are afferent nerve terminals in the carotid sinus that arise from carotid sinus nerve of glossopharyngeal nerve. However, the three-dimensional ultrastructural characteristics of flower-spray nerve endings and spatial relationships between the terminal parts and other cellular elements have not been fully understood. To elucidate their detailed relationship, backscattered electron imaging of serial sections was performed with a scanning electron microscope to produce a three-dimensional reconstruction of the flower-spray endings. The terminal parts of flower-spray endings were distributed horizontally approximately 5 µm outside the external elastic membrane in the tunica adventitia of the internal carotid artery. The three-dimensional reconstruction showed that the terminal parts of flower-spray endings were flat with irregular contours and were partially covered by the thin cytoplasmic processes of Schwann cells. The complex consisting of the nerve terminals and associated Schwann cells was surrounded by a multilayered basement membrane. The terminal parts of the endings were also surrounded by fibroblasts with elastic fibers and collagen fibrils. Secretory vesicles without an electron-dense core were observed in the terminal parts of the endings. The accumulation of vesicles just below the axonal membrane was observed in terminal parts not covered by Schwann cell cytoplasmic processes on both the luminal and basal sides. Swollen mitochondria, concentric membranous structures, and glycogen granule-like electron-dense materials were often noted in some of the terminal parts of the endings and the parent axon. Collectively, the present results suggest that flower-spray endings are baroreceptors because their morphology was similar to other mechanoreceptors. Furthermore, flower-spray endings may be affected by glutamate secreted in an autocrine manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Murakami
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Sasaki
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Misaki Komuro
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Takuya Yokoyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Sayed Sharif Abdali
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Nakamuta
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
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4
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Cuendias P, Vega JA, García-Suárez O, Suazo I, Cobo R, García-Piqueras J, García-Mesa Y. Axonal and Glial PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 Immunoreactivity in Human Clitoral Krause's Corpuscles. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6722. [PMID: 38928429 PMCID: PMC11203881 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Krause's corpuscles are typical of cutaneous mucous epithelia, like the lip vermillion or the glans clitoridis, and are associated with rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors involved in gentle touch or vibration. PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are transmembrane mechano-gated proteins that form a part of the cationic ion channels required for mechanosensitivity in mammalian cells. They are involved in somatosensitivity, especially in the different qualities of touch, but also in pain and proprioception. In the present study, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the occurrence and cellular location of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 in human clitoral Krause's corpuscles. Both PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 were detected in Krause's corpuscles in both the axon and the terminal glial cells. The presence of PIEZOs in the terminal glial cells of Kraus's corpuscles is reported here for the first time. Based on the distribution of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, it may be assumed they could be involved in mechanical stimuli, sexual behavior, and sexual pleasure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cuendias
- Grupo de Investigación SINPOS, Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (P.C.); (J.A.V.); (O.G.-S.); (J.G.-P.)
| | - José A. Vega
- Grupo de Investigación SINPOS, Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (P.C.); (J.A.V.); (O.G.-S.); (J.G.-P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Santiago de Chile 4810010, Chile;
| | - Olivia García-Suárez
- Grupo de Investigación SINPOS, Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (P.C.); (J.A.V.); (O.G.-S.); (J.G.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Iván Suazo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Santiago de Chile 4810010, Chile;
| | - Ramón Cobo
- Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario “Marqués de Valdecilla”, 39008 Santander, Spain;
| | - Jorge García-Piqueras
- Grupo de Investigación SINPOS, Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (P.C.); (J.A.V.); (O.G.-S.); (J.G.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda García-Mesa
- Grupo de Investigación SINPOS, Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (P.C.); (J.A.V.); (O.G.-S.); (J.G.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
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5
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Xu M, Thottappillil N, Cherief M, Li Z, Zhu M, Xing X, Gomez-Salazar M, Mwirigi JM, Sankaranarayanan I, Tavares-Ferreira D, Zhang C, Wang XW, Archer M, Guan Y, Tower RJ, Cahan P, Price TJ, Clemens TL, James AW. Mapping Somatosensory Afferent Circuitry to Bone Identifies Neurotrophic Signals Required for Fracture Healing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597786. [PMID: 38895367 PMCID: PMC11185682 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The profound pain accompanying bone fracture is mediated by somatosensory neurons, which also appear to be required to initiate bone regeneration following fracture. Surprisingly, the precise neuroanatomical circuitry mediating skeletal nociception and regeneration remains incompletely understood. Here, we characterized somatosensory dorsal root ganglia (DRG) afferent neurons innervating murine long bones before and after experimental long bone fracture in mice. Retrograde labeling of DRG neurons by an adeno-associated virus with peripheral nerve tropism showed AAV-tdT signal. Single cell transcriptomic profiling of 6,648 DRG neurons showed highest labeling across CGRP+ neuron clusters (6.9-17.2%) belonging to unmyelinated C fibers, thinly myelinated Aδ fibers and Aβ-Field LTMR (9.2%). Gene expression profiles of retrograde labeled DRG neurons over multiple timepoints following experimental stress fracture revealed dynamic changes in gene expression corresponding to the acute inflammatory ( S100a8 , S100a9 ) and mechanical force ( Piezo2 ). Reparative phase after fracture included morphogens such as Tgfb1, Fgf9 and Fgf18 . Two methods to surgically or genetically denervate fractured bones were used in combination with scRNA-seq to implicate defective mesenchymal cell proliferation and osteodifferentiation as underlying the poor bone repair capacity in the presence of attenuated innervation. Finally, multi-tissue scRNA-seq and interactome analyses implicated neuron-derived FGF9 as a potent regulator of fracture repair, a finding compatible with in vitro assessments of neuron-to-skeletal mesenchyme interactions.
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6
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Qi L, Iskols M, Greenberg RS, Xiao JY, Handler A, Liberles SD, Ginty DD. Krause corpuscles are genital vibrotactile sensors for sexual behaviours. Nature 2024; 630:926-934. [PMID: 38898273 PMCID: PMC11208142 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07528-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Krause corpuscles, which were discovered in the 1850s, are specialized sensory structures found within the genitalia and other mucocutaneous tissues1-4. The physiological properties and functions of Krause corpuscles have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we report the anatomical and physiological properties of Krause corpuscles of the mouse clitoris and penis and their roles in sexual behaviour. We observed a high density of Krause corpuscles in the clitoris compared with the penis. Using mouse genetic tools, we identified two distinct somatosensory neuron subtypes that innervate Krause corpuscles of both the clitoris and penis and project to a unique sensory terminal region of the spinal cord. In vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging experiments showed that both Krause corpuscle afferent types are A-fibre rapid-adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors, optimally tuned to dynamic, light-touch and mechanical vibrations (40-80 Hz) applied to the clitoris or penis. Functionally, selective optogenetic activation of Krause corpuscle afferent terminals evoked penile erection in male mice and vaginal contraction in female mice, while genetic ablation of Krause corpuscles impaired intromission and ejaculation of males and reduced sexual receptivity of females. Thus, Krause corpuscles of the clitoris and penis are highly sensitive mechanical vibration detectors that mediate sexually dimorphic mating behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel S Greenberg
- Department of Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jia Yin Xiao
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen D Liberles
- Department of Cell Biology, 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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7
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Hastings RL, Valdez G. Origin, identity, and function of terminal Schwann cells. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:432-446. [PMID: 38664109 PMCID: PMC11168889 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The highly specialized nonmyelinating glial cells present at somatic peripheral nerve endings, known collectively as terminal Schwann cells (TSCs), play critical roles in the development, function and repair of their motor and sensory axon terminals and innervating tissue. Over the past decades, research efforts across various vertebrate species have revealed that while TSCs are a diverse group of cells, they share a number of features among them. In this review, we summarize the state-of-knowledge about each TSC type and explore the opportunities that TSCs provide to treat conditions that afflict peripheral axon terminals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Louis Hastings
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gregorio Valdez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, and Center on the Biology of Aging, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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8
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Huey EL, Turecek J, Delisle MM, Mazor O, Romero GE, Dua M, Sarafis ZK, Hobble A, Booth KT, Goodrich LV, Corey DP, Ginty DD. The auditory midbrain mediates tactile vibration sensing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.584077. [PMID: 38496510 PMCID: PMC10942453 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.584077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Vibrations are ubiquitous in nature, shaping behavior across the animal kingdom. For mammals, mechanical vibrations acting on the body are detected by mechanoreceptors of the skin and deep tissues and processed by the somatosensory system, while sound waves traveling through air are captured by the cochlea and encoded in the auditory system. Here, we report that mechanical vibrations detected by the body's Pacinian corpuscle neurons, which are unique in their ability to entrain to high frequency (40-1000 Hz) environmental vibrations, are prominently encoded by neurons in the lateral cortex of the inferior colliculus (LCIC) of the midbrain. Remarkably, most LCIC neurons receive convergent Pacinian and auditory input and respond more strongly to coincident tactile-auditory stimulation than to either modality alone. Moreover, the LCIC is required for behavioral responses to high frequency mechanical vibrations. Thus, environmental vibrations captured by Pacinian corpuscles are encoded in the auditory midbrain to mediate behavior.
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9
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Qi L, Iskols M, Shi D, Reddy P, Walker C, Lezgiyeva K, Voisin T, Pawlak M, Kuchroo VK, Chiu IM, Ginty DD, Sharma N. A mouse DRG genetic toolkit reveals morphological and physiological diversity of somatosensory neuron subtypes. Cell 2024; 187:1508-1526.e16. [PMID: 38442711 PMCID: PMC10947841 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons detect mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli acting on the body. Achieving a holistic view of how different DRG neuron subtypes relay neural signals from the periphery to the CNS has been challenging with existing tools. Here, we develop and curate a mouse genetic toolkit that allows for interrogating the properties and functions of distinct cutaneous targeting DRG neuron subtypes. These tools have enabled a broad morphological analysis, which revealed distinct cutaneous axon arborization areas and branching patterns of the transcriptionally distinct DRG neuron subtypes. Moreover, in vivo physiological analysis revealed that each subtype has a distinct threshold and range of responses to mechanical and/or thermal stimuli. These findings support a model in which morphologically and physiologically distinct cutaneous DRG sensory neuron subtypes tile mechanical and thermal stimulus space to collectively encode a wide range of natural stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Shi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pranav Reddy
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christopher Walker
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Karina Lezgiyeva
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tiphaine Voisin
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mathias Pawlak
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vijay K Kuchroo
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Isaac M Chiu
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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10
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Logan DR, Hall J, Bianchi L. A helping hand: roles for accessory cells in the sense of touch across species. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1367476. [PMID: 38433863 PMCID: PMC10904576 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1367476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
During touch, mechanical forces are converted into electrochemical signals by tactile organs made of neurons, accessory cells, and their shared extracellular spaces. Accessory cells, including Merkel cells, keratinocytes, lamellar cells, and glia, play an important role in the sensation of touch. In some cases, these cells are intrinsically mechanosensitive; however, other roles include the release of chemical messengers, the chemical modification of spaces that are shared with neurons, and the tuning of neural sensitivity by direct physical contact. Despite great progress in the last decade, the precise roles of these cells in the sense of touch remains unclear. Here we review the known and hypothesized contributions of several accessory cells to touch by incorporating research from multiple organisms including C. elegans, D. melanogaster, mammals, avian models, and plants. Several broad parallels are identified including the regulation of extracellular ions and the release of neuromodulators by accessory cells, as well as the emerging potential physical contact between accessory cells and sensory neurons via tethers. Our broader perspective incorporates the importance of accessory cells to the understanding of human touch and pain, as well as to animal touch and its molecular underpinnings, which are underrepresented among the animal welfare literature. A greater understanding of touch, which must include a role for accessory cells, is also relevant to emergent technical applications including prosthetics, virtual reality, and robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Bianchi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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11
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Bouchatta O, Brodzki M, Manouze H, Carballo GB, Kindström E, de-Faria FM, Yu H, Kao AR, Thorell O, Liljencrantz J, Ng KKW, Frangos E, Ragnemalm B, Saade D, Bharucha-Goebel D, Szczot I, Moore W, Terejko K, Cole J, Bonnemann C, Luo W, Mahns DA, Larsson M, Gerling GJ, Marshall AG, Chesler AT, Olausson H, Nagi SS, Szczot M. PIEZO2-dependent rapid pain system in humans and mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.01.569650. [PMID: 38168273 PMCID: PMC10760115 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.01.569650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The PIEZO2 ion channel is critical for transducing light touch into neural signals but is not considered necessary for transducing acute pain in humans. Here, we discovered an exception - a form of mechanical pain evoked by hair pulling. Based on observations in a rare group of individuals with PIEZO2 deficiency syndrome, we demonstrated that hair-pull pain is dependent on PIEZO2 transduction. Studies in control participants showed that hair-pull pain triggered a distinct nocifensive response, including a nociceptive reflex. Observations in rare Aβ deafferented individuals and nerve conduction block studies in control participants revealed that hair-pull pain perception is dependent on Aβ input. Single-unit axonal recordings revealed that a class of cooling-responsive myelinated nociceptors in human skin is selectively tuned to painful hair-pull stimuli. Further, we pharmacologically mapped these nociceptors to a specific transcriptomic class. Finally, using functional imaging in mice, we demonstrated that in a homologous nociceptor, Piezo2 is necessary for high-sensitivity, robust activation by hair-pull stimuli. Together, we have demonstrated that hair-pulling evokes a distinct type of pain with conserved behavioral, neural, and molecular features across humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otmane Bouchatta
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Marek Brodzki
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Houria Manouze
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gabriela B. Carballo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Emma Kindström
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Felipe M. de-Faria
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Huasheng Yu
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Anika R. Kao
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Oumie Thorell
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jaquette Liljencrantz
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kevin K. W. Ng
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eleni Frangos
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Bengt Ragnemalm
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dimah Saade
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Diana Bharucha-Goebel
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Ilona Szczot
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Warren Moore
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Katarzyna Terejko
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Biology of Astrocytes Research Group, Łukasiewicz Research Network - PORT Polish Center for Technology Development, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jonathan Cole
- University Hospitals, Dorset, and University of Bournemouth, UK
| | - Carsten Bonnemann
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Wenquin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - David A. Mahns
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Max Larsson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gregory J. Gerling
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Andrew G. Marshall
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Alexander T. Chesler
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Håkan Olausson
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Saad S. Nagi
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Senior author
| | - Marcin Szczot
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Senior author
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12
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de Nooij JC. Engineering mechanoreceptor feature selectivity. Neuron 2023; 111:3137-3139. [PMID: 37857088 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Touch and proprioception rely on the discriminative abilities of distinct classes of mechanosensory neurons. In this issue of Neuron, two studies1,2 provide evidence that biomechanical mechanisms and ultrastructural cellular specializations are key contributors in defining mechanoreceptor stimulus threshold and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joriene C de Nooij
- Department of Neurology and Columbia University Motor Neuron Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Santiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD. Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.23.559109. [PMID: 37790437 PMCID: PMC10542488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
We report a role for activity in the development of the primary sensory neurons that detect touch. Genetic deletion of Piezo2, the principal mechanosensitive ion channel in somatosensory neurons, caused profound changes in the formation of mechanosensory end organ structures and altered somatosensory neuron central targeting. Single cell RNA sequencing of Piezo2 conditional mutants revealed changes in gene expression in the sensory neurons activated by light mechanical forces, whereas other neuronal classes were less affected. To further test the role of activity in mechanosensory end organ development, we genetically deleted the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 (Scn8a) in somatosensory neurons throughout development and found that Scn8a mutants also have disrupted somatosensory neuron morphologies and altered electrophysiological responses to mechanical stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that mechanically evoked neuronal activity acts early in life to shape the maturation of the mechanosensory end organs that underlie our sense of gentle touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Santiago
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nusrat Africawala
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Julianna Siegrist
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aniqa Tasnim
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rabia Anjum
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Josef Turecek
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brendan P. Lehnert
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sophia Renauld
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Nolan-Tamariz
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandra R. Magee
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Suzanne Paradis
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - David D. Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Lead Contact
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