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Baltar J, Miranda RM, Cabral M, Rebelo S, Grahammer F, Huber TB, Reguenga C, Monteiro FA. Neph1 is required for neurite branching and is negatively regulated by the PRRXL1 homeodomain factor in the developing spinal cord dorsal horn. Neural Dev 2024; 19:13. [PMID: 39049046 PMCID: PMC11271021 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-024-00190-6] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell-adhesion molecule NEPH1 is required for maintaining the structural integrity and function of the glomerulus in the kidneys. In the nervous system of Drosophila and C. elegans, it is involved in synaptogenesis and axon branching, which are essential for establishing functional circuits. In the mammalian nervous system, the expression regulation and function of Neph1 has barely been explored. In this study, we provide a spatiotemporal characterization of Neph1 expression in mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord. After the neurogenic phase, Neph1 is broadly expressed in the DRGs and in their putative targets at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, comprising both GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. Interestingly, we found that PRRXL1, a homeodomain transcription factor that is required for proper establishment of the DRG-spinal cord circuit, prevents a premature expression of Neph1 in the superficial laminae of the dorsal spinal cord at E14.5, but has no regulatory effect on the DRGs or on either structure at E16.5. By chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of the dorsal spinal cord, we identified four PRRXL1-bound regions within the Neph1 introns, suggesting that PRRXL1 directly regulates Neph1 transcription. We also showed that Neph1 is required for branching, especially at distal neurites. Together, our work showed that Prrxl1 prevents the early expression of Neph1 in the superficial dorsal horn, suggesting that Neph1 might function as a downstream effector gene for proper assembly of the DRG-spinal nociceptive circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Baltar
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rafael Mendes Miranda
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Cabral
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Rebelo
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Florian Grahammer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carlos Reguenga
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Almeida Monteiro
- Unidade de Biologia Experimental, Departamento de Biomedicina, FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Pain Neurobiology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Porto, Portugal.
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Feng X, Zhan H, Sokol CL. Sensory neuronal control of skin barrier immunity. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:371-380. [PMID: 38653601 PMCID: PMC11102800 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.03.008] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Peripheral sensory neurons recognize diverse noxious stimuli, including microbial products and allergens traditionally thought to be targets of the mammalian immune system. Activation of sensory neurons by these stimuli leads to pain and itch responses as well as the release of neuropeptides that interact with their cognate receptors expressed on immune cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs). Neuronal control of immune cell function through neuropeptide release not only affects local inflammatory responses but can impact adaptive immune responses through downstream effects on T cell priming. Numerous neuropeptide receptors are expressed by DCs but only a few have been characterized, presenting opportunities for further investigation of the pathways by which cutaneous neuroimmune interactions modulate host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Feng
- Center for Immunology & Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Haoting Zhan
- Center for Immunology & Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Caroline L Sokol
- Center for Immunology & Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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Moon S, Alsarkhi L, Lin TT, Inoue R, Tahiri A, Colson C, Cai W, Shirakawa J, Qian WJ, Zhao JY, El Ouaamari A. Transcriptome and secretome profiling of sensory neurons reveals sex differences in pathways relevant to insulin sensing and insulin secretion. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23185. [PMID: 37695721 PMCID: PMC10503313 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300941r] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) convey somatosensory and metabolic cues to the central nervous system and release substances from stimulated terminal endings in peripheral organs. Sex-biased variations driven by the sex chromosome complement (XX and XY) have been implicated in the sensory-islet crosstalk. However, the molecular underpinnings of these male-female differences are not known. Here, we aim to characterize the molecular repertoire and the secretome profile of the lower thoracic spinal sensory neurons and to identify molecules with sex-biased insulin sensing- and/or insulin secretion-modulating activity that are encoded independently of circulating gonadal sex hormones. We used transcriptomics and proteomics to uncover differentially expressed genes and secreted molecules in lower thoracic T5-12 DRG sensory neurons derived from sexually immature 3-week-old male and female C57BL/6J mice. Comparative transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed differential gene expression and protein secretion in DRG neurons in males and females. The transcriptome analysis identified, among others, higher insulin signaling/sensing capabilities in female DRG neurons; secretome screening uncovered several sex-specific candidate molecules with potential regulatory functions in pancreatic β cells. Together, these data suggest a putative role of sensory interoception of insulin in the DRG-islet crosstalk with implications in sensory feedback loops in the regulation of β-cell activity in a sex-biased manner. Finally, we provide a valuable resource of molecular and secretory targets that can be leveraged for understanding insulin interoception and insulin secretion and inform the development of novel studies/approaches to fathom the role of the sensory-islet axis in the regulation of energy balance in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohyun Moon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Lamyaa Alsarkhi
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
| | - Tai-Tu Lin
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Ryota Inoue
- Laboratory of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Azeddine Tahiri
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
| | - Cecilia Colson
- The Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Weikang Cai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Jun Shirakawa
- Laboratory of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Wei-Jun Qian
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Jerry Yingtao Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA
| | - Abdelfattah El Ouaamari
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 01595, USA
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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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Pomaville MB, Wright KM. Follicle-innervating Aδ-low threshold mechanoreceptive neurons form receptive fields through homotypic competition. Neural Dev 2023; 18:2. [PMID: 37106422 PMCID: PMC10134579 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-023-00170-2] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian somatosensory system is comprised of multiple neuronal populations that form specialized, highly organized sensory endings in the skin. The organization of somatosensory endings is essential to their functions, yet the mechanisms which regulate this organization remain unclear. Using a combination of genetic and molecular labeling approaches, we examined the development of mouse hair follicle-innervating low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) and explored competition for innervation targets as a mechanism involved in the patterning of their receptive fields. We show that follicle innervating neurons are present in the skin at birth and that LTMR receptive fields gradually add follicle-innervating endings during the first two postnatal weeks. Using a constitutive Bax knockout to increase the number of neurons in adult animals, we show that two LTMR subtypes have differential responses to an increase in neuronal population size: Aδ-LTMR neurons shrink their receptive fields to accommodate the increased number of neurons innervating the skin, while C-LTMR neurons do not. Our findings suggest that competition for hair follicles to innervate plays a role in the patterning and organization of follicle-innervating LTMR neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Pomaville
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Kevin M Wright
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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The cellular and molecular basis of somatosensory neuron development. Neuron 2021; 109:3736-3757. [PMID: 34592169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Primary somatosensory neurons convey salient information about our external environment and internal state to the CNS, allowing us to detect, perceive, and react to a wide range of innocuous and noxious stimuli. Pseudo-unipolar in shape, and among the largest (longest) cells of most mammals, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons have peripheral axons that extend into skin, muscle, viscera, or bone and central axons that innervate the spinal cord and brainstem, where they synaptically engage the central somatosensory circuitry. Here, we review the diversity of mammalian DRG neuron subtypes and the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that control their development. We describe classical and contemporary advances that frame our understanding of DRG neurogenesis, transcriptional specification of DRG neurons, and the establishment of morphological, physiological, and synaptic diversification across somatosensory neuron subtypes.
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