1
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Bell AM, Utting C, Dickie AC, Kucharczyk MW, Quillet R, Gutierrez-Mecinas M, Razlan ANB, Cooper AH, Lan Y, Hachisuka J, Weir GA, Bannister K, Watanabe M, Kania A, Hoon MA, Macaulay IC, Denk F, Todd AJ. Deep sequencing of Phox2a nuclei reveals five classes of anterolateral system neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314213121. [PMID: 38805282 PMCID: PMC11161781 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314213121] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The anterolateral system (ALS) is a major ascending pathway from the spinal cord that projects to multiple brain areas and underlies the perception of pain, itch, and skin temperature. Despite its importance, our understanding of this system has been hampered by the considerable functional and molecular diversity of its constituent cells. Here, we use fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate ALS neurons belonging to the Phox2a-lineage for single-nucleus RNA sequencing. We reveal five distinct clusters of ALS neurons (ALS1-5) and document their laminar distribution in the spinal cord using in situ hybridization. We identify three clusters of neurons located predominantly in laminae I-III of the dorsal horn (ALS1-3) and two clusters with cell bodies located in deeper laminae (ALS4 and ALS5). Our findings reveal the transcriptional logic that underlies ALS neuronal diversity in the adult mouse and uncover the molecular identity of two previously identified classes of projection neurons. We also show that these molecular signatures can be used to target groups of ALS neurons using retrograde viral tracing. Overall, our findings provide a valuable resource for studying somatosensory biology and targeting subclasses of ALS neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Bell
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
- Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Allen C. Dickie
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Mateusz W. Kucharczyk
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, LondonWC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
- Cancer Neurophysiology Group, Lukasiewicz-PORT, Polish Center for Technology Development, Wroclaw54-066, Poland
| | - Raphaëlle Quillet
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Gutierrez-Mecinas
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Aimi N. B. Razlan
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew H. Cooper
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Yuxuan Lan
- Earlham Institute, NorwichNRU 7UZ, United Kingdom
| | - Junichi Hachisuka
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Greg A. Weir
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Bannister
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, LondonWC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo060-8638, Japan
| | - Artur Kania
- Neural Circuit Development Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QCH2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Mark A. Hoon
- Molecular Genetics Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | - Franziska Denk
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, LondonWC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Todd
- Spinal Cord Group, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, United Kingdom
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Yarmolinsky DA, Zeng X, MacKinnon-Booth N, Greene C, Kim C, Woolf CJ. Selective modification of ascending spinal outputs in acute and neuropathic pain states. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588581. [PMID: 38645252 PMCID: PMC11030409 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Pain hypersensitivity arises from the plasticity of peripheral and spinal somatosensory neurons, which modifies nociceptive input to the brain and alters pain perception. We utilized chronic calcium imaging of spinal dorsal horn neurons to determine how the representation of somatosensory stimuli in the anterolateral tract, the principal pathway transmitting nociceptive signals to the brain, changes between distinct pain states. In healthy conditions, we identify stable, narrowly tuned outputs selective for cooling or warming, and a neuronal ensemble activated by intense/noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Induction of an acute peripheral sensitization with capsaicin selectively and transiently retunes nociceptive output neurons to encode low-intensity stimuli. In contrast, peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain results in a persistent suppression of innocuous spinal outputs coupled with activation of a normally silent population of high-threshold neurons. These results demonstrate the differential modulation of specific spinal outputs to the brain during nociceptive and neuropathic pain states.
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Chen H, Bleimeister IH, Nguyen EK, Li J, Cui AY, Stratton HJ, Smith KM, Baccei ML, Ross SE. The functional and anatomical characterization of three spinal output pathways of the anterolateral tract. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113829. [PMID: 38421871 PMCID: PMC11025583 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113829] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of spinal output pathways that convey nociceptive information to the brain has been the subject of controversy. Here, we provide anatomical, molecular, and functional characterizations of two distinct anterolateral pathways: one, ascending in the lateral spinal cord, triggers nociceptive behaviors, and the other one, ascending in the ventral spinal cord, when inhibited, leads to sensorimotor deficits. Moreover, the lateral pathway consists of at least two subtypes. The first is a contralateral pathway that extends to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and thalamus; the second is a bilateral pathway that projects to the bilateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN). Finally, we present evidence showing that activation of the contralateral pathway is sufficient for defensive behaviors such as running and freezing, whereas the bilateral pathway is sufficient for attending behaviors such as licking and guarding. This work offers insight into the complex organizational logic of the anterolateral system in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Chen
- Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Isabel H Bleimeister
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Eileen K Nguyen
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Abby Yilin Cui
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Harrison J Stratton
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kelly M Smith
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mark L Baccei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Sarah E Ross
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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4
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Quillet R, Gutierrez-Mecinas M, Polgár E, Dickie AC, Boyle KA, Watanabe M, Todd AJ. Synaptic circuits involving gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-expressing neurons in the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1294994. [PMID: 38143564 PMCID: PMC10742631 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1294994] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The superficial dorsal horn (SDH) of the spinal cord contains a diverse array of neurons. The vast majority of these are interneurons, most of which are glutamatergic. These can be assigned to several populations, one of which is defined by expression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). The GRPR cells are thought to be "tertiary pruritoceptors," conveying itch information to lamina I projection neurons of the anterolateral system (ALS). Surprisingly, we recently found that GRPR-expressing neurons belong to a morphological class known as vertical cells, which are believed to transmit nociceptive information to lamina I ALS cells. Little is currently known about synaptic circuits engaged by the GRPR cells. Here we combine viral-mediated expression of PSD95-tagRFP fusion protein with super-resolution microscopy to reveal sources of excitatory input to GRPR cells. We find that they receive a relatively sparse input from peptidergic and non-peptidergic nociceptors in SDH, and a limited input from A- and C-low threshold mechanoreceptors on their ventral dendrites. They receive synapses from several excitatory interneuron populations, including those defined by expression of substance P, neuropeptide FF, cholecystokinin, neurokinin B, and neurotensin. We investigated downstream targets of GRPR cells by chemogenetically exciting them and identifying Fos-positive (activated) cells. In addition to lamina I projection neurons, many ALS cells in lateral lamina V and the lateral spinal nucleus were Fos-positive, suggesting that GRPR-expressing cells target a broader population of projection neurons than was previously recognised. Our findings indicate that GRPR cells receive a diverse synaptic input from various types of primary afferent and excitatory interneuron, and that they can activate ALS cells in both superficial and deep regions of the dorsal horn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Quillet
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Erika Polgár
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Allen C. Dickie
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kieran A. Boyle
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Andrew J. Todd
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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5
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Bell AM, Utting C, Dickie AC, Kucharczyk MW, Quillet R, Gutierrez-Mecinas M, Razlan AN, Cooper AH, Lan Y, Hachisuka J, Weir GA, Bannister K, Watanabe M, Kania A, Hoon MA, Macaulay IC, Denk F, Todd AJ. Deep sequencing of Phox2a nuclei reveals five classes of anterolateral system neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.20.553715. [PMID: 37786726 PMCID: PMC10541585 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.20.553715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
The anterolateral system (ALS) is a major ascending pathway from the spinal cord that projects to multiple brain areas and underlies the perception of pain, itch and skin temperature. Despite its importance, our understanding of this system has been hampered by the considerable functional and molecular diversity of its constituent cells. Here we use fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate ALS neurons belonging to the Phox2a-lineage for single-nucleus RNA sequencing. We reveal five distinct clusters of ALS neurons (ALS1-5) and document their laminar distribution in the spinal cord using in situ hybridization. We identify 3 clusters of neurons located predominantly in laminae I-III of the dorsal horn (ALS1-3) and two clusters with cell bodies located in deeper laminae (ALS4 & ALS5). Our findings reveal the transcriptional logic that underlies ALS neuronal diversity in the adult mouse and uncover the molecular identity of two previously identified classes of projection neurons. We also show that these molecular signatures can be used to target groups of ALS neurons using retrograde viral tracing. Overall, our findings provide a valuable resource for studying somatosensory biology and targeting subclasses of ALS neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Bell
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Allen C. Dickie
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Mateusz W. Kucharczyk
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, PL30-668 Krakow, Poland
| | - Raphaëlle Quillet
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Maria Gutierrez-Mecinas
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Aimi N.B. Razlan
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Andrew H. Cooper
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Junichi Hachisuka
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Greg A. Weir
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kirsty Bannister
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Artur Kania
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC, H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Mark A. Hoon
- Molecular Genetics Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Franziska Denk
- The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Andrew J. Todd
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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Ahanonu B, Crowther A, Kania A, Casillas MR, Basbaum A. Long-term optical imaging of the spinal cord in awake, behaving animals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.541477. [PMID: 37292913 PMCID: PMC10245895 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Advances in optical imaging approaches and fluorescent biosensors have enabled an understanding of the spatiotemporal and long-term neural dynamics in the brain of awake animals. However, methodological difficulties and the persistence of post-laminectomy fibrosis have greatly limited similar advances in the spinal cord. To overcome these technical obstacles, we combined in vivo application of fluoropolymer membranes that inhibit fibrosis; a redesigned, cost-effective implantable spinal imaging chamber; and improved motion correction methods that together permit imaging of the spinal cord in awake, behaving mice, for months to over a year. We also demonstrate a robust ability to monitor axons, identify a spinal cord somatotopic map, conduct Ca2+ imaging of neural dynamics in behaving animals responding to pain-provoking stimuli, and observe persistent microglial changes after nerve injury. The ability to couple neural activity and behavior at the spinal cord level will drive insights not previously possible at a key location for somatosensory transmission to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biafra Ahanonu
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Andrew Crowther
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Artur Kania
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, QC, H2W 1R7, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Mariela Rosa Casillas
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Allan Basbaum
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Lead Contact
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7
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Rastegar-Pouyani S, Kennedy TE, Kania A. Somatotopy of Mouse Spinothalamic Innervation and the Localization of a Noxious Stimulus Requires Deleted in Colorectal Carcinoma Expression by Phox2a Neurons. J Neurosci 2022; 42:7885-7899. [PMID: 36028316 PMCID: PMC9617615 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1164-22.2022] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Anterolateral system (AS) neurons transmit pain signals from the spinal cord to the brain. Their morphology, anatomy, and physiological properties have been extensively characterized and suggest that specific AS neurons and their brain targets are concerned with the discriminatory aspects of noxious stimuli, such as their location or intensity, and their motivational/emotive dimension. Among the recently unraveled molecular markers of AS neurons is the developmentally expressed transcription factor Phox2a, providing us with the opportunity to selectively disrupt the embryonic wiring of AS neurons to gain insights into the logic of their adult function. As mice with a spinal-cord-specific loss of the netrin-1 receptor deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) have increased AS neuron innervation of ipsilateral brain targets and defective noxious stimulus localization or topognosis, we generated mice of either sex carrying a deletion of Dcc in Phox2a neurons. Such DccPhox2a mice displayed impaired topognosis along the rostrocaudal axis but with little effect on left-right discrimination and normal aversive responses. Anatomical tracing experiments in DccPhox2a mice revealed defective targeting of cervical and lumbar AS axons within the thalamus. Furthermore, genetic labeling of AS axons revealed their expression of DCC on their arrival in the brain, at a time when many of their target neurons are being born and express Ntn1 Our experiments suggest a postcommissural crossing function for netrin-1:DCC signaling during the formation of somatotopically ordered maps and are consistent with a discriminatory function of some of the Phox2a AS neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How nociceptive (pain) signals are relayed from the body to the brain remains an important question relevant to our understanding of the basic physiology of pain perception. Previous studies have demonstrated that the AS is a main effector of this function. It is composed of AS neurons located in the spinal cord that receive signals from nociceptive sensory neurons that detect noxious stimuli. In this study, we generate a genetic miswiring of mouse AS neurons that results in a decreased ability to perceive the location of a painful stimulus. The precise nature of this defect sheds light on the function of different kinds of AS neurons and how pain information may be organized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Rastegar-Pouyani
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal Québec H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Timothy E Kennedy
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal Quebéc H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Artur Kania
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal Québec H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal Québec H3A 2B2, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal QC H3A 0C7, Canada
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8
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Trendafilova T, Adhikari K, Schmid AB, Patel R, Polgár E, Chisholm KI, Middleton SJ, Boyle K, Dickie AC, Semizoglou E, Perez-Sanchez J, Bell AM, Ramirez-Aristeguieta LM, Khoury S, Ivanov A, Wildner H, Ferris E, Chacón-Duque JC, Sokolow S, Saad Boghdady MA, Herchuelz A, Faux P, Poletti G, Gallo C, Rothhammer F, Bedoya G, Zeilhofer HU, Diatchenko L, McMahon SB, Todd AJ, Dickenson AH, Ruiz-Linares A, Bennett DL. Sodium-calcium exchanger-3 regulates pain "wind-up": From human psychophysics to spinal mechanisms. Neuron 2022; 110:2571-2587.e13. [PMID: 35705078 PMCID: PMC7613464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Repeated application of noxious stimuli leads to a progressively increased pain perception; this temporal summation is enhanced in and predictive of clinical pain disorders. Its electrophysiological correlate is "wind-up," in which dorsal horn spinal neurons increase their response to repeated nociceptor stimulation. To understand the genetic basis of temporal summation, we undertook a GWAS of wind-up in healthy human volunteers and found significant association with SLC8A3 encoding sodium-calcium exchanger type 3 (NCX3). NCX3 was expressed in mouse dorsal horn neurons, and mice lacking NCX3 showed normal, acute pain but hypersensitivity to the second phase of the formalin test and chronic constriction injury. Dorsal horn neurons lacking NCX3 showed increased intracellular calcium following repetitive stimulation, slowed calcium clearance, and increased wind-up. Moreover, virally mediated enhanced spinal expression of NCX3 reduced central sensitization. Our study highlights Ca2+ efflux as a pathway underlying temporal summation and persistent pain, which may be amenable to therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaustubh Adhikari
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK; Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Annina B Schmid
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ryan Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Erika Polgár
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Kim I Chisholm
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Steven J Middleton
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Kieran Boyle
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Allen C Dickie
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew M Bell
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Samar Khoury
- McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aleksandar Ivanov
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hendrik Wildner
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleanor Ferris
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Juan-Camilo Chacón-Duque
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Sokolow
- Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie et de Thérapeutique Faculté de Médecine Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - André Herchuelz
- Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie et de Thérapeutique Faculté de Médecine Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Faux
- CNRS, EFS, ADES, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Giovanni Poletti
- Unidad de Neurobiologia Molecular y Genética, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Carla Gallo
- Unidad de Neurobiologia Molecular y Genética, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Gabriel Bedoya
- GENMOL (Genética Molecular), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luda Diatchenko
- McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephen B McMahon
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Todd
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Anthony H Dickenson
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andres Ruiz-Linares
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK; CNRS, EFS, ADES, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
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9
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Kókai É, Alsulaiman WAA, Dickie AC, Bell AM, Goffin L, Watanabe M, Gutierrez-Mecinas M, Todd AJ. Characterisation of deep dorsal horn projection neurons in the spinal cord of the Phox2a::Cre mouse line. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221119614. [PMID: 36000342 PMCID: PMC9445510 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221119614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Projection neurons belonging to the anterolateral system (ALS) underlie the perception of pain, skin temperature and itch. Many ALS cells are located in laminae III-V of the dorsal horn and the adjacent lateral white matter. However, relatively little is known about the excitatory synaptic input to these deep ALS cells, and therefore about their engagement with the neuronal circuitry of the region. We have used a recently developed mouse line, Phox2a::Cre, to investigate a population of deep dorsal horn ALS neurons known as "antenna cells", which are characterised by dense innervation from peptidergic nociceptors, and to compare these with other ALS cells in the deep dorsal horn and lateral white matter. We show that these two classes differ, both in the density of excitatory synapses, and in the source of input at these synapses. Peptidergic nociceptors account for around two-thirds of the excitatory synapses on the antenna cells, but for only a small proportion of the input to the non-antenna cells. Conversely, boutons with high levels of VGLUT2, which are likely to originate mainly from glutamatergic spinal neurons, account for only ∼5% of the excitatory synapses on antenna cells, but for a much larger proportion of the input to the non-antenna cells. VGLUT1 is expressed by myelinated low-threshold mechanoreceptors and corticospinal axons, and these innervate both antenna and non-antenna cells. However, the density of VGLUT1 input to the non-antenna cells is highly variable, consistent with the view that these neurons are functionally heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Kókai
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Wafa AA Alsulaiman
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Allen C Dickie
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew M Bell
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Luca Goffin
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Maria Gutierrez-Mecinas
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew J Todd
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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