Hydropathicity-based prediction of pain-causing NaV1.7 variants.

BACKGROUND: Mutation-induced variations in the functional architecture of the NaV1.7 channel protein are causally related to a broad spectrum of human pain disorders. Predicting in silico the phenotype of NaV1.7 variant is of major clinical importance; it can aid in reducing costs of in vitro pathophysiological characterization of NaV1.7 variants, as well as, in the design of drug agents for counteracting pain-disease symptoms. RESULTS: In this work, we utilize spatial complexity of hydropathic effects toward predicting which NaV1.7 variants cause pain (and which are neutral) based on the location of corresponding mutation sites within the NaV1.7 structure. For that, we analyze topological and scaling hydropathic characteristics of the atomic environment around NaV1.7's pore and probe their spatial correlation with mutation sites. We show that pain-related mutation sites occupy structural locations in proximity to a hydrophobic patch lining the pore while clustering at a critical hydropathic-interactions distance from the selectivity filter (SF). Taken together, these observations can differentiate pain-related NaV1.7 variants from neutral ones, i.e., NaV1.7 variants not causing pain disease, with 80.5[Formula: see text] sensitivity and 93.7[Formula: see text] specificity [area under the receiver operating characteristics curve = 0.872]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that maintaining hydrophobic NaV1.7 interior intact, as well as, a finely-tuned (dictated by hydropathic interactions) distance from the SF might be necessary molecular conditions for physiological NaV1.7 functioning. The main advantage for using the presented predictive scheme is its negligible computational cost, as well as, hydropathicity-based biophysical rationalization.

Non-extensitivity and criticality of atomic hydropathicity around a voltage-gated sodium channel's pore: a modeling study.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NavChs) are pore-forming membrane proteins that regulate the transport of sodium ions through the cell membrane. Understanding the structure and function of NavChs is of major biophysical, as well as clinical, importance given their key role in cellular pathophysiology. In this work, we provide a computational framework for modeling system-size-dependent, i.e., cumulative, atomic properties around a NavCh's pore. We illustrate our methodologies on the bacterial NavAb channel captured in a closed-pore state where we demonstrate that the atomic environment around its pore exhibits a bi-phasic spatial organization dictated by the structural separation of the pore domains (PDs) from the voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). Accordingly, a mathematical model describing packing of atoms around NavAb's pore is constructed that allows-under certain conservation conditions-for a power-law approximation of the cumulative hydropathic dipole field effect acting along NavAb's pore. This verified the non-extensitivity hypothesis for the closed-pore NavAb channel and revealed a long-range hydropathic interactions law regulating atom-packing around the NavAb's selectivity filter. Our model predicts a PDs-VSDs coupling energy of [Formula: see text] kcal/mol corresponding to a global maximum of the atom-packing energy profile. Crucially, we demonstrate for the first time how critical phenomena can emerge in a single-channel structure as a consequence of the non-extensive character of its atomic porous environment.

Cumulative hydropathic topology of a voltage-gated sodium channel at atomic resolution.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NavChs) are biological pores that control the flow of sodium ions through the cell membrane. In humans, mutations in genes encoding NavChs can disrupt physiological cellular activity thus leading to a wide spectrum of diseases. Here, we present a topological connection between the functional architecture of a NavAb bacterial channel and accumulation of atomic hydropathicity around its pore. This connection is established via a scaling analysis methodology that elucidates how intrachannel hydropathic density variations translate into hydropathic dipole field configurations along the pore. Our findings suggest the existence of a nonrandom cumulative hydropathic topology that is organized parallel to the membrane surface so that pore's stability, as well as, gating behavior are guaranteed. Given the biophysical significance of the hydropathic effect, our study seeks to provide a computational framework for studying cumulative hydropathic topological properties of NavChs and pore-forming proteins in general.

Botulinum toxin type A affects the transcriptome of cell cultures derived from muscle biopsies of controls and spastic patients.

Botulin toxin (BTX) is widely used for treating skeletal muscle spasticity. Experimental reports on BTX treatment were mainly focused on the neuromuscular junction, while relatively little is known about toxin effects on the muscle cell itself. We investigated possible impact of BTX type A on skeletal muscle cell transcriptome by microarray analysis in muscle-derived cell cultures (fibroblasts, myoblasts and myotubes) from controls and spastic patients, and results were then validated at transcript and protein level. BTX-A treatment of control cells induced major changes in the myogenic component of the transcriptome, whereas the same treatment had a negligible effect in the fibrogenic component. BTX-A treatment of cell cultures from spastic patients induced an increased number of genes differentially expressed both in the fibrogenic and myogenic components. Specifically, BTX-A had a major effect on cell cycle-related genes in myoblasts, on muscle contraction-related genes in myotubes, and on extracellular matrix-related genes in fibroblasts from spastic patients. Our findings show that in vitro BTX-A treatment differentially affects transcript expression in muscle cells from spastic patients compared to those from controls suggesting a direct effect of BTX-A on muscle-specific functional pathways.

Network topology of NaV1.7 mutations in sodium channel-related painful disorders.

BACKGROUND: Gain-of-function mutations in SCN9A gene that encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 have been associated with a wide spectrum of painful syndromes in humans including inherited erythromelalgia, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder and small fibre neuropathy. These mutations change the biophysical properties of NaV1.7 channels leading to hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion nociceptors and pain symptoms. There is a need for better understanding of how gain-of-function mutations alter the atomic structure of Nav1.7. RESULTS: We used homology modeling to build an atomic model of NaV1.7 and a network-based theoretical approach, which can predict interatomic interactions and connectivity arrangements, to investigate how pain-related NaV1.7 mutations may alter specific interatomic bonds and cause connectivity rearrangement, compared to benign variants and polymorphisms. For each amino acid substitution, we calculated the topological parameters betweenness centrality (B ct ), degree (D), clustering coefficient (CC ct ), closeness (C ct ), and eccentricity (E ct ), and calculated their variation (Δ value = mutant value -WT value ). Pathogenic NaV1.7 mutations showed significantly higher variation of |ΔB ct | compared to benign variants and polymorphisms. Using the cut-off value ±0.26 calculated by receiver operating curve analysis, we found that ΔB ct correctly differentiated pathogenic NaV1.7 mutations from variants not causing biophysical abnormalities (nABN) and homologous SNPs (hSNPs) with 76% sensitivity and 83% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our in-silico analyses predict that pain-related pathogenic NaV1.7 mutations may affect the network topological properties of the protein and suggest |ΔB ct | value as a potential in-silico marker.

A novel ABCC6 haplotype is associated with azathioprine drug response in myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters (DMETs) with the response to azathioprine (AZA) in patients affected by myasthenia gravis (MG) to determine possible genotype-phenotype correlations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA from 180 AZA-treated MG patients was screened through the Affymetrix DMET platform, which characterizes 1931 SNPs in 225 genes. The significant SNPs, identified to be involved in AZA response, were subsequently validated by allelic discrimination and direct sequencing. SNP analysis was carried out using the SNPassoc R package and the haploblocks were determined using haploview software. RESULTS: We studied 127 patients in the discovery phase and 53 patients in the validation phase. We showed that two SNPs (rs8058694 and rs8058696) found in ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 6, a subfamily member of ATP-binding cassette genes, constituted a new haplotype associated with AZA response in MG patients in the discovery cohort (P=0.011; odds ratio: 0.40; 95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.83) and in the combined cohort (P=0.04; odds ratio: 1.58). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the role that the ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 6 haplotype may play in AZA drug response. In view of the significant effects and AZA intolerance, these novel SNPs should be taken into consideration in pharmacogenetic profiling for AZA.

Identification of a gene expression signature in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients treated with disease-modifying therapies.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease with neurodegenerative alterations, ultimately progressing to neurological handicap. Therapies are effective in counteracting inflammation but not neurodegeneration. Biomarkers predicting disease course or treatment response are lacking. We investigated whether altered gene and protein expression profiles were detectable in the peripheral blood of 78 relapsing remitting MS (RR-MS) patients treated by disease-modifying therapies. A discovery/validation study on RR-MS responsive to glatiramer acetate identified 8 differentially expressed genes: ITGA2B, ITGB3, CD177, IGJ, IL5RA, MMP8, P2RY12, and S100ß. A longitudinal study on glatiramer acetate, Interferon-ß, or Fingolimod treated RR-MS patients confirmed that 7 out of 8 genes were downregulated with reference to the different therapies, whereas S100ß was always upregulated. Thus, we identified a peripheral gene signature associated with positive response in RR-MS which may also explain drug immunomodulatory effects. The usefulness of this signature as a biomarker needs confirmation on larger series of patients.

The multidrug-resistance transporter Abcc3 protects NK cells from chemotherapy in a murine model of malignant glioma.

Abcc3, a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily, plays a role in multidrug resistance. Here, we found that Abcc3 is highly expressed in blood-derived NK cells but not in CD8(+) T cells. In GL261 glioma-bearing mice treated with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) for 5 d, an early increased frequency of NK cells was observed. We also found that Abcc3 is strongly upregulated and functionally active in NK cells from mice treated with TMZ compared to controls. We demonstrate that Abcc3 is critical for NK cell survival during TMZ administration; more importantly, Akt, involved in lymphocyte survival, is phosphorylated only in NK cells expressing Abcc3. The resistance of NK cells to chemotherapy was accompanied by increased migration and homing in the brain at early time points. Cytotoxicity, evaluated by IFNγ production and specific lytic activity against GL261 cells, increased peripherally in the later phases, after conclusion of TMZ treatment. Intra-tumor increase of the NK effector subset as well as in IFNγ, granzymes and perforin-1 expression, were found early and persisted over time, correlating with a profound modulation on glioma microenvironment induced by TMZ. Our findings reveal an important involvement of Abcc3 in NK cell resistance to chemotherapy and have important clinical implications for patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy.

Increased expression of Toll-like receptors 7 and 9 in myasthenia gravis thymus characterized by active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Considerable data implicate the thymus as the main site of autosensitization to the acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis (MG), a B-cell-mediated autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction. We recently demonstrated an active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the thymus of MG patients, suggesting that EBV might contribute to the onset or maintenance of the autoimmune response within MG thymus, because of its ability to activate and immortalize autoreactive B cells. EBV has been reported to elicit and modulate Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7- and TLR9-mediated innate immune responses, which are known to favor B-cell dysfunction and autoimmunity. Aim of this study was to investigate whether EBV infection is associated with altered expression of TLR7 and TLR9 in MG thymus. By real-time PCR, we found that TLR7 and TLR9 mRNA levels were significantly higher in EBV-positive MG compared to EBV-negative normal thymuses. By confocal microscopy, high expression levels of TLR7 and TLR9 proteins were observed in B cells and plasma cells of MG thymic germinal centers (GCs) and lymphoid infiltrates, where the two receptors co-localized with EBV antigens. An increased frequency of Ki67-positive proliferating B cells was found in MG thymuses, where we also detected proliferating cells expressing TLR7, TLR9 and EBV antigens, thus supporting the idea that EBV-associated TLR7/9 signaling may promote abnormal B-cell activation and proliferation. Along with B cells and plasma cells, thymic epithelium, plasmacytoid dendritic cells and macrophages exhibited enhanced TLR7 and TLR9 expression in MG thymus; TLR7 was also increased in thymic myeloid dendritic cells and its transcriptional levels positively correlated with those of interferon (IFN)-ß. We suggested that TLR7/9 signaling may be involved in antiviral type I IFN production and long-term inflammation in EBV-infected MG thymuses. Our overall findings indicate that EBV-driven TLR7- and TLR9-mediated innate immune responses may participate in the intra-thymic pathogenesis of MG.

Missense mutations in progranulin gene associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration: study of pathogenetic features.

GRN, the gene coding for the progranulin (PGRN) protein, was recognized as a gene linked to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The first mutations identified were null mutations giving rise to haploinsufficiency. Missense mutations were subsequently detected, but only a small subset has been functionally investigated. We identified missense mutations (C105Y, A199V, and R298H) in FTLD cases with family history and/or with low plasma PGRN levels. The aim of this study was to determine their pathogenicity. We performed functional studies, analyzing PGRN expression, secretion, and cleavage by elastase. GRN C105Y affected both secretion and elastase cleavage, likely representing a pathogenic mutation. GRN A199V did not alter the physiological properties of PGRN and GRN R298H produced only moderate effects on PGRN secretion, indicating that their pathogenicity is uncertain. In the absence of strong segregation data and neuropathological examinations, genetic, biomarker, and functional studies can be applied to an algorithm to assess the likelihood of pathogenicity for a mutation. This information can improve our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which GRN mutations lead to FTLD.

Up-regulation of neural and cell cycle-related microRNAs in brain of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice at late disease stage.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective motor neuron degeneration in motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that bind complementary target sequences and modulate gene expression; they are key molecules for establishing a neuronal phenotype, and in neurodegeneration. Here we investigated neural miR-9, miR-124a, miR-125b, miR-219, miR-134, and cell cycle-related miR-19a and -19b, in G93A-SOD1 mouse brain in pre-symptomatic and late stage disease. RESULTS: Expression of miR-9, miR-124a, miR-19a and -19b was significantly increased in G93A-SOD1 whole brain at late stage disease compared to B6.SJL and Wt-SOD1 control brains. These miRNAs were then analyzed in manually dissected SVZ, hippocampus, primary motor cortex and brainstem motor nuclei in 18-week-old ALS mice compared to same age controls. In SVZ and hippocampus miR-124a was up-regulated, miR-219 was down-regulated, and numbers of neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs) were significantly increased. In G93A-SOD1 brainstem motor nuclei and primary motor cortex, miR-9 and miR-124a were significantly up-regulated, miR-125b expression was also increased. miR-19a and -19b were up-regulated in primary motor cortex and hippocampus, respectively. Expression analysis of predicted miRNA targets identified miRNA/target gene pairs differentially expressed in G93A-SOD1 brain regions compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Hierarchical clustering analysis, identifying two clusters of miRNA/target genes, one characterizing brainstem motor nuclei and primary motor cortex, the other hippocampus and SVZ, suggests that altered expression of neural and cell cycle-related miRNAs in these brain regions might contribute to ALS pathogenesis in G93A-SOD1 mice. Re-establishing their expression to normal levels could be a new therapeutic approach to ALS.

Autophagy, inflammation and innate immunity in inflammatory myopathies.

Autophagy has a large range of physiological functions and its dysregulation contributes to several human disorders, including autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). In order to better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of these muscular disorders, we sought to define the role of autophagic processes and their relation with the innate immune system in the three main subtypes of IIM, specifically sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). We found that although the mRNA transcript levels of the autophagy-related genes BECN1, ATG5 and FBXO32 were similar in IIM and controls, autophagy activation in all IIM subgroups was suggested by immunoblotting results and confirmed by immunofluorescence. TLR4 and TLR3, two potent inducers of autophagy, were highly increased in IIM, with TLR4 transcripts significantly more expressed in PM and DM than in JDM, sIBM and controls, and TLR3 transcripts highly up-regulated in all IIM subgroups compared to controls. Co-localization between autophagic marker, LC3, and TLR4 and TLR3 was observed not only in sIBM but also in PM, DM and JDM muscle tissues. Furthermore, a highly association with the autophagic processes was observed in all IIM subgroups also for some TLR4 ligands, endogenous and bacterial HSP60, other than the high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). These findings indicate that autophagic processes are active not only in sIBM but also in PM, DM and JDM, probably in response to an exogenous or endogenous 'danger signal'. However, autophagic activation and regulation, and also interaction with the innate immune system, differ in each type of IIM. Better understanding of these differences may lead to new therapies for the different IIM types.

LMNA-associated myopathies: the Italian experience in a large cohort of patients.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to conduct a comparative study in a large cohort of myopathic patients carrying LMNA gene mutations to evaluate clinical and molecular features associated with different phenotypes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 78 myopathic patients with LMNA mutation and 30 familial cases with LMNA mutation without muscle involvement. We analyzed features characterizing the various forms of LMNA-related myopathy through correlation statistics. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 37 (47%) had limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1B (LGMD1B), 18 (23%) congenital muscular dystrophy (MDCL), 17 (22%) autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy 2 (EDMD2), and 6 (8%) an atypical myopathy. The myopathic phenotypes shared a similar cardiac impairment. Cardioverter defibrillator or pacemaker was implanted in 41 (53%) myopathic patients compared to 7 (23%) familial cases without muscle involvement (p = 0.005). Heart transplantation was performed in 8 (10.3%) myopathic patients and in none of the familial cases. Ten (12.8%) myopathic patients died; there were no deaths among the familial cases (p = 0.032). Missense mutations were found in 14 patients (82%) with EDMD2 and 14 patients (78%) with MDCL compared to 17 patients (45%) with LGMD1B and 4 (67%) atypical patients. Frameshift mutations were detected in 17 (45%) LGMD1B compared to 3 (18%) EDMD2, 1 (6%) MDCL, and 2 (33%) with atypical myopathy (p = 0.021). Furthermore, frameshift mutations were found in 30 of 73 patients (41%) with heart involvement compared to 4 of 35 (11%) without heart involvement (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our data provided new insights in LMNA-related myopathies, whose natural history appears to be dominated by cardiac involvement and related complications.

Stimulus-evoked potentials contribute to map the epileptogenic zone during stereo-EEG presurgical monitoring.

Presurgical monitoring with intracerebral electrodes in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy represents a standard invasive procedure to localize the sites of seizures origin, defined as the epileptogenic zone (EZ). During presurgical evaluation, intracerebral single-pulse electrical stimulation (SPES) is performed to define the boundaries of eloquent areas and to evoke seizure-associated symptoms. Extensive intracranial exploration and stimulation generate a large dataset on brain connectivity that can be used to improve EZ detection and to understand the organization of the human epileptic brain. We developed a protocol to analyse field responses evoked by intracranial stimulation. Intracerebral recordings were performed with 105-162 recording sites positioned in fronto-temporal regions in 12 patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Recording sites were used for bipolar SPES at 1 Hz. Reproducible early and late phases (<60 ms and 60-500 ms from stimulus artefact, respectively) were identified on averaged evoked responses. Phase 1 and 2 responses recorded at all and each recording sites were plotted on a 3D brain reconstructions. Based on connectivity properties, electrode contacts were primarily identified as receivers, mainly activators or bidirectional. We used connectivity patterns to construct networks and applied cluster partitioning to study the proprieties between potentials evoked/stimulated in different regions. We demonstrate that bidirectional connectivity during phase 1 is a prevalent feature that characterize contacts included in the EZ. This study shows that the application of an analytical protocol on intracerebral stimulus-evoked recordings provides useful information that may contribute to EZ detection and to the management of surgical-remediable epilepsies.

Altered miRNA expression is associated with neuronal fate in G93A-SOD1 ependymal stem progenitor cells.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motoneuron loss in the CNS. In G93A-SOD1 mice, motoneuron degeneration is associated with proliferative restorative attempts of ependymal stem progenitor cells (epSPCs), usually quiescent in the spinal cord. The aims of the study were to demonstrate that epSPCs isolated from the spinal cord of G93A-SOD1 mice express neurogenic potential in vitro, and thus gain a better understanding of epSPC neural differentiation properties. For this purpose, we compared the ability of epSPCs from asymptomatic and symptomatic G93A-SOD1 and WT SOD1 transgenic mice to proliferate and differentiate into neural cells. Compared to control cells, G93A-SOD1 epSPCs differentiated more into neurons than into astrocytes, whereas oligodendrocyte proportions were similar in the two populations. G93A-SOD1 neurons were small and astrocytes had an activated phenotype. Evaluation of microRNAs, specific for neural cell fate and cell-cycle regulation, in G93A-SOD1 epSPCs showed that miR-9, miR-124a, miR-19a and miR-19b were differentially expressed. Expression analysis of the predicted miRNA targets allowed identification of a functional network in which Hes1, Pten, Socs1, and Stat3 genes were important for controlling epSPC fate. Our findings demonstrate that G93A-SOD1 epSPCs are a source of multipotent cells that have neurogenic potential in vitro, and might be a useful tool to investigate the mechanisms of neural differentiation in relation to miRNA expression whose modulation might constitute new targeted therapeutic approaches to ALS.

A large cohort of myotonia congenita probands: novel mutations and a high-frequency mutation region in exons 4 and 5 of the CLCN1 gene.

Myotonia congenita is a genetic disease characterized by impaired muscle relaxation after forceful contraction (myotonia) and caused by mutations in the chloride channel voltage-sensitive 1 (CLCN1) gene, encoding the voltage-gated chloride channel of skeletal muscle (ClC-1). In a large cohort of clinically diagnosed unrelated probands, we identified 75 different CLCN1 mutations in 106 individuals, among which 29 were novel mutations and 46 had already been reported. Despite the newly described mutations being scattered throughout the gene, in our patients, mutations were mostly found in exons 4 and 5. Most of the novel mutations located in the region comprising the intramembrane helices are involved in the ion-conducting pathway and predicted to affect channel function. We report for the first time that two mutations, inherited on the same allele as a heterozygous trait, abrogate disease expression, although when inherited singularly they were pathogenic. Such a mode of inheritance might explain the incomplete penetrance reported for autosomal dominant mutations in particular families.

A new thiopurine s-methyltransferase haplotype associated with intolerance to azathioprine.

The authors have analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms in the thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) gene in the context of efficacy and toxicity of azathioprine (AZA) to determine possible genotype-phenotype correlations between TPMT allelic variants and response to AZA treatment in 76 Italian patients with myasthenia gravis. They confirm known intronic and exonic TPMT polymorphisms that do not correlate with AZA responses and demonstrate a novel intronic polymorphism in a patient intolerant to AZA. Most importantly, they show that of the 22 AZA-intolerant patients, all 5 who carried mutations of the intolerance-linked haplotype TPMT*3A also carried the intronic T140+114A (rs3931660), all 3 mutations being part of a new haplotype designated TMPT*3E. TPMT*3E was not observed in unresponsive or responsive patients. The association of TPMT*3E with AZA intolerance and its frequency must be ascertained in larger, ethnically different cohorts. Nevertheless, in view of the highly significant association (Psim = 0.0026) between TPMT*3E and AZA intolerance in the study, this new haplotype should be taken into consideration in pharmacogenetic profiling for AZA.

Gain-of-function Nav1.8 mutations in painful neuropathy.

Painful peripheral neuropathy often occurs without apparent underlying cause. Gain-of-function variants of sodium channel Na(v)1.7 have recently been found in ∼30% of cases of idiopathic painful small-fiber neuropathy. Here, we describe mutations in Na(v)1.8, another sodium channel that is specifically expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and peripheral nerve axons, in patients with painful neuropathy. Seven Na(v)1.8 mutations were identified in 9 subjects within a series of 104 patients with painful predominantly small-fiber neuropathy. Three mutations met criteria for potential pathogenicity based on predictive algorithms and were assessed by voltage and current clamp. Functional profiling showed that two of these three Na(v)1.8 mutations enhance the channel's response to depolarization and produce hyperexcitability in DRG neurons. These observations suggest that mutations of Na(v)1.8 contribute to painful peripheral neuropathy.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells that inhibit autoimmune arthritis can be induced by a combination of carvacrol and thermal stress.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) can induce regulatory T cells and dampen pathogenic T cell responses. Therefore, they are possible therapeutic targets in autoimmune diseases. In this study we investigated whether mouse tolerogenic DCs are induced by the phytonutrient carvacrol, a molecule with known anti-inflammatory properties, in combination with a physiological stress. We show that treatment of DCs with carvacrol and thermal stress led to the mRNA expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. Interestingly, treated DCs with this mixed gene expression profile had a reduced ability to activate pro-inflammatory T cells. Furthermore, these DCs increased the proportion of FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells. In vivo, prophylactic injection of carvacrol-thermal stress treated DCs pulsed with the disease inducing antigen was able to suppress disease in a mouse model of arthritis. These findings suggest that treatment of mouse bone marrow derived DCs with carvacrol and thermal stress induce a functionally tolerogenic DC that can suppress autoimmune arthritis. Herewith carvacrol seems to offer novel opportunities for the development of a dietary based intervention in chronic inflammatory diseases.