Work

Keratinocytes can modulate and directly initiate nociceptive responses

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: How thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli applied to the skin are transduced into signals transmitted by peripheral neurons to the CNS is an area of intense study. Several studies indicate that transduction mechanisms are intrinsic to cutaneous neurons and that epidermal keratinocytes only modulate this transduction. Using mice expressing channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in keratinocytes we show that blue light activation of the epidermis alone can produce action potentials (APs) in multiple types of cutaneous sensory neurons including SA1, A-HTMR, CM, CH, CMC, CMH and CMHC fiber types. In loss of function studies, yellow light stimulation of keratinocytes that express halorhodopsin reduced AP generation in response to naturalistic stimuli. These findings support the idea that intrinsic sensory transduction mechanisms in epidermal keratinocytes can directly elicit AP firing in nociceptive as well as tactile sensory afferents and suggest a significantly expanded role for the epidermis in sensory processing.

Source: eLife

DOI: 10.7554/elife.09674

Authors: Kyle M Baumbauer, Jennifer J DeBerry, Peter C Adelman, Richard H Miller, Junichi Hachisuka, Kuan Hsien Lee, Sarah E Ross, H Richard Koerber, Brian M Davis, Kathryn M Albers

Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Language: English

Topic: Ion Channels and Receptors

Subfield: Sensory Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

Awards: Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Sensory Neuron Plasticity, Effects of Artemin on Nociceptors, Phenotyping pain in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer, Characterization of epithelial-neural communication, Optogenetic dissection of the functional properties of bladder afferent populations, Digestive Diseases Training Program, University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Sensory Neuron Plasticity, Characterization and Plasticity of Visceral Nociceptors, Optogenetic analysis of epidermal-neuronal interaction, G857490982, G9000201226, Investigating the Neural Circuits of Itch, Training in Mechanisms and Clinical Presentation of Pain

OpenAlex ID: W2177347011

FWCI: 9.69

Cites: 38

Cited by: 194

Related to: 10

Parts: 9