A subpopulation of itch-sensing neurons marked by Ret and somatostatin expression.
EMBO Rep
; 17(4): 585-600, 2016 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26929027
ABSTRACT
Itch, the unpleasant sensation that elicits a desire to scratch, is mediated by specific subtypes of cutaneous sensory neuron. Here, we identify a subpopulation of itch-sensing neurons based on their expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. We apply flow cytometry to isolate Ret-positive neurons from dorsal root ganglia and detected a distinct population marked by low levels of Ret and absence of isolectin B4 binding. We determine the transcriptional profile of these neurons and demonstrate that they express neuropeptides such as somatostatin (Sst), the NGF receptor TrkA, and multiple transcripts associated with itch. We validate the selective expression of Sst using an Sst-Cre driver line and ablated these neurons by generating mice in which the diphtheria toxin receptor is conditionally expressed from the sensory neuron-specific Avil locus. Sst-CreAvil(iDTR) mice display normal nociceptive responses to thermal and mechanical stimuli. However, scratching behavior evoked by interleukin-31 (IL-31) or agonist at the 5HT1F receptor is significantly reduced. Our data provide a molecular signature for a subpopulation of neurons activated by multiple pruritogens.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Prurido
/
Células Receptoras Sensoriais
/
Somatostatina
/
Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret
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Gânglios Espinais
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
EMBO Rep
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália