Article
Physiology
Nicolas Montalbetti, Marcelo D. Carattino
Summary: Our study suggests that protons and their corresponding acid-sensing ion channel receptors are part of a mechanism operating at bladder afferent terminals to regulate their function, and the loss of this regulatory mechanism leads to the hyperactivation of nociceptive pathways and pain development in the context of chemical-induced cystitis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Fayaz A. Mir, Sushil K. Jha
Summary: The locus coeruleus (LC) neurons are involved in chemoregulation and sleep-wake modulation, with ASICs playing a role in this process. Mild hypercapnia increases NREM sleep and REM sleep episodes, but ASICs in the LC may inhibit the increase in REM frequency, suggesting their important role in vigilance-state transition.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nina Ruan, Jacob Tribble, Andrew M. Peterson, Qian Jiang, John Q. Wang, Xiang-Ping Chu
Summary: ASICs are proton-gated cation channels activated by pH drops and nonproton ligands, playing crucial roles in various physiological and pathological processes. They are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system and have been linked to functions such as synaptic plasticity, learning/memory, and mechanosensation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongbo Chen, Jiahua Deng, Qiang Cui, Baron Chanda, Katherine Henzler-Wildman
Summary: By combining experimental results with molecular dynamics simulations, this study reveals that the engineered temperature-sensitive variant of the Shaker potassium channel has the same overall secondary structure as the wild-type channel, but exhibits local changes in backbone torsion angles near the substitution sites (V369S and F370S). Notably, these structural differences lead to increased hydration of specific regions in the temperature-sensitive variant at higher temperatures, highlighting the impact of subtle differences in primary structure on solvation and temperature-dependent activity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Fang Pei, Jialing Liu, Lan Zhang, Xuefeng Pan, Wei Huang, Xiao Cen, Shishu Huang, Ying Jin, Zhihe Zhao
Summary: Tooth and bone are independent tissues with a close relationship, both constantly under mechanical stress. Mechanotransduction plays a key role in various processes in tooth and bone tissues, with mechanosensitive ion channels like Piezo1 and Piezo2 potentially playing important roles. Research in these areas could lead to new insights into regulating tooth and bone tissues, as well as potential treatments for related diseases.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Edyta Glogowska, Malika Arhatte, Franck C. Chatelain, Florian Lesage, Aimin Xu, Carsten Grashoff, Dennis E. Discher, Amanda Patel, Eric Honore
Summary: The study demonstrates that Piezo1/2 channels can increase the current amplitude of TREK/TRAAK channels, slow down their activation/deactivation rates, and remove their inactivation upon mechanical stimulation. This regulation is mainly achieved through a local depletion of membrane cholesterol, occurring in mouse fibroblasts and affecting wound healing speed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kevin Y. Gonzalez-Velandia, Andres Hernandez-Clavijo, Anna Menini, Michele Dibattista, Simone Pifferi
Summary: This study provides the first complete description of the stomatin-domain protein family in the olfactory system, highlighting their composition, functional interactions, and the importance of STOML3 for the localization of STOM in OSNs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Omar Paez, Pedro Segura-Chama, Angelica Almanza, Francisco Pellicer, Francisco Mercado
Summary: This review focuses on pain caused by chemical irritants, particularly the impact of acidic substances and the sensitivity of different receptor channels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to H+. The study analyzes the characteristics and reactions of these receptor candidates to low pH, comparing the expression of H+-receptors in the DRG with mRNA expression profiles from single-cell sequencing datasets, and reveals that only a few nociceptor subpopulations combine acid-sensitive channels.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Sridevi Nagaraja, Luis F. Queme, Megan C. Hofmann, Shivendra G. Tewari, Michael P. Jankowski, Jaques Reifman
Summary: This study used an integrated approach combining experimental study and computational modeling to identify key proteins that regulate mechanical nociception in muscles. Global sensitivity analyses identified three ion channels as potential regulators of nociceptor response to mechanical forces, suggesting that altering expression of these genes might regulate the response of mechanosensitive muscle nociceptors.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amber W. W. Sun, Michelle H. H. Wu, Madhumathi Vijayalingam, Michael J. Wacker, Xiang-Ping Chu
Summary: Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage-independent sodium channels that are regulated by zinc and contribute to various neurological and psychological disorders. Understanding the structural interactions between zinc and ASICs and their therapeutic implications could provide valuable insights into these diseases.
Article
Cell Biology
Karis Amata Zecchi, Thomas Heimburg
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that lipid bilayers exhibit conductive properties but are commonly considered inert insulators. Under voltage-clamp conditions, lipid bilayers display current traces with discrete conduction-steps and outward rectification. The non-linear conduction in lipid membranes at different depths indicates voltage-gated and mechanosensitive channels.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Meredith A. Redd, Sarah E. Scheuer, Natalie J. Saez, Yusuke Yoshikawa, Han Sheng Chiu, Ling Gao, Mark Hicks, Jeanette E. Villanueva, Yashutosh Joshi, Chun Yuen Chow, Gabriel Cuellar-Partida, Jason N. Peart, Louise E. See Hoe, Xiaoli Chen, Yuliangzi Sun, Jacky Y. Suen, Robert J. Hatch, Ben Rollo, Di Xia, Mubarak A. H. Alzubaidi, Snezana Maljevic, Gregory A. Quaife-Ryan, James E. Hudson, Enzo R. Porrello, Melanie Y. White, Stuart J. Cordwell, John F. Fraser, Steven Petrou, Melissa E. Reichelt, Walter G. Thomas, Glenn F. King, Peter S. Macdonald, Nathan J. Palpant
Summary: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, and acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is significantly associated with cardiac IRI. Genetic ablation of ASIC1a improves cardiomyocyte viability after acute IRI, and therapeutic blockade of ASIC1a shows cardioprotective effects equivalent to benchmark drugs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
June M. Kenyaga, Qinghui Cheng, Wei Qiang
Summary: In this study, solid-state NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the interactions between β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides and lipids in synaptic plasma membranes. The results revealed the site-specific interactions between Aβ peptides and lipids and demonstrated that these interactions modulate lipid dynamics and influence the structural polymorphisms of Aβ aggregates. These findings provide molecular insights into the early events of fibrillation in biological environments and shed light on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Florian Jacquot, Spiro Khoury, Bonnie Labrum, Kevin Delanoe, Ludivine Pidoux, Julie Barbier, Lauriane Delay, Agathe Bayle, Youssef Aissouni, David A. Barriere, Kim Kultima, Eva Freyhult, Anders Hugo, Eva Kosek, Aisha S. Ahmed, Alexandra Jurczak, Eric Lingueglia, Camilla Svensson, Veronique Breuil, Thierry Ferreira, Fabien Marchand, Emmanuel Deval
Summary: This study reveals that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), particularly LPC16:0, is significantly elevated in the synovial fluid of patients with painful rheumatic diseases. The levels of LPC16:0 correlate with pain outcomes in osteoarthritis patients. In rodent models, intra-articular injections of LPC16:0 trigger chronic joint pain and anxiety-like behaviors, dependent on ASIC3 channels. These findings suggest a potential role for LPC16:0 via ASIC3 channels in chronic pain arising from joints in humans, with implications for pain management in osteoarthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew L. Rook, Anna Ananchenko, Maria Musgaard, David M. MacLean
Summary: The trimeric acid-sensing ion channel structures in resting, toxin-bound open, and desensitized states show little difference between the toxin-bound open state and the desensitized state, except for a loop reorientation in the extracellular domain. Specific interactions within the surrounding area impact linker stability in the flipped desensitized state. The stability of the ASIC desensitized state is strongly conserved under selective pressure, highlighting the physiological importance of desensitization.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marta Gomez-Sanchez, M. Carmen Patino-Alonso, Leticia Gomez-Sanchez, Jose I. Recio-Rodriguez, Emiliano Rodriguez-Sanchez, Jose A. Maderuelo-Fernandez, Luis Garcia-Ortiz, Manuel A. Gomez-Marcos, Carlos Martinez-Salgado, Jesus M. Hernandez-Rivas, Rogelio Gonzalez-Sarmiento, Pedro L. Sanchez-Fernandez, Emiliano Rodriguez-Sanchez, M. Carmen Patino-Alonso, Jesus Gonzalez-Sanchez, Rosario Alonso-Dominguez, Carmela Rodriguez-Martin, Angela de Cabo-Laso, Benigna Sanchez-Salgado, Natalia Sanchez Aguadero, Sara Mora-Simon, Jose Ramon Gonzalez-Porras, Jose Maria Bastida-Bermejo, Isabel Fuentes-Calvo
REVISTA ESPANOLA DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Fred Schwaller, Valerie Begay, Gema Garcia-Garcia, Francisco J. Taberner, Rabih Moshourab, Brennan McDonald, Trevor Docter, Johannes Kuehnemund, Julia Ojeda-Alonso, Ricardo Paricio-Montesinos, Stefan G. Lechner, James F. A. Poulet, Jose M. Millan, Gary R. Lewin
Summary: The study found that the USH2A protein in Meissner's corpuscles is necessary for humans and mice to perceive tiny vibrations. Mutations in USH2A lead to impairments in vibrotactile touch perception in patients and mice, indicating a crucial role of USH2A in the mechanoreceptor sensitivity and vibration perception in corpuscular end-organs.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alison J. Barker, Grigorii Veviurko, Nigel C. Bennett, Daniel W. Hart, Lina Mograby, Gary R. Lewin
Summary: Naked mole-rats use specific vocalizations to transmit information about group membership, creating unique colony dialects. The integrity of these dialects is partially controlled by the queen and can be affected by changes in queen leadership. Pups raised in foreign colonies learn the vocal dialect of their adoptive colonies, showing the flexibility and vertical transmission of vocal signatures.
Article
Neurosciences
Emilio Agostinelli, Kevin Y. Gonzalez-Velandia, Andres Hernandez-Clavijo, Devendra Kumar Maurya, Elena Xerxa, Gary R. Lewin, Michele Dibattista, Anna Menini, Simone Pifferi
Summary: STOML3 is an integral membrane protein expressed in the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons, where it is hypothesized to be involved in modulating odorant responses. Knock-out mice lacking STOML3 have a morphologically normal olfactory epithelium, but show reduced firing activity in response to stimuli, indicating a physiological role in olfaction.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Alfredo G. Casanova, Isabel Fuentes-Calvo, Maria T. Hernandez-Sanchez, Miguel Quintero, Paula Toral, Maria T. Caballero, Carlos Martinez-Salgado, Ana Morales, Anita T. Layton, Nelida Eleno, Francisco J. Lopez-Hernandez
Summary: Diagnosis of AKI relies on plasma creatinine concentration but also requires detection of alterations in other aspects of renal function. The furosemide stress test has been validated in rats for detecting subclinical tubular alterations. Impaired response to the FST was observed in predisposed rats with AKI.
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Rochelle Buffenstein, Vincent Amoroso, Blazej Andziak, Stanislav Avdieiev, Jorge Azpurua, Alison J. Barker, Nigel C. Bennett, Miguel A. Brieno-Enriquez, Gary N. Bronner, Clive Coen, Martha A. Delaney, Christine M. Dengler-Crish, Yael H. Edrey, Chris G. Faulkes, Daniel Frankel, Gerard Friedlander, Patrick A. Gibney, Vera Gorbunova, Christopher Hine, Melissa M. Holmes, Jennifer U. M. Jarvis, Yoshimi Kawamura, Nobuyuki Kutsukake, Cynthia Kenyon, Walid T. Khaled, Takefumi Kikusui, Joseph Kissil, Samantha Lagestee, John Larson, Amanda Lauer, Leonid A. Lavrenchenko, Angela Lee, Jonathan B. Levitt, Gary R. Lewin, Kaitlyn N. Lewis Hardell, Tzu Hua D. Lin, Matthew J. Mason, Dan McCloskey, Mary McMahon, Kyoko Miura, Kazutaka Mogi, Vikram Narayan, Timothy P. O'Connor, Kazuo Okanoya, M. Justin O'Riain, Thomas J. Park, Ned J. Place, Katie Podshivalova, Matthew E. Pamenter, Sonja J. Pyott, Jane Reznick, J. Graham Ruby, Adam B. Salmon, Joseph Santos-Sacchi, Diana K. Sarko, Andrei Seluanov, Alyssa Shepard, Megan Smith, Kenneth B. Storey, Xiao Tian, Emily N. Vice, Melanie Viltard, Akiyuki Watarai, Ewa Wywial, Masanori Yamakawa, Elena D. Zemlemerova, Michael Zions, Ewan St John Smith
Summary: The naked mole-rat has fascinated zoologists and generated biomedical interest due to its longevity and unique protective features. A recent article questioned 28 'myths' about the naked mole-rat, categorizing them into oversimplifications, incomplete understanding, consensus revisions, and genuine disagreements among researchers. The term 'myth' is deemed inappropriate for competing, evidence-based hypotheses, which are part of the normal evolution of scientific knowledge.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Jose M. Munoz-Felix, Carlos Martinez-Salgado
Summary: Renal fibrosis is a complex process, with signaling pathways mediated by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and Ras GTPases playing key roles in the regulation of kidney pathological processes.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Oliver Daumke, Gary R. Lewin
Summary: In this study, researchers identified that SPFH proteins confine their client proteins in specialized membrane microdomains by assembling into a giant molecular cage encasing AAA+ protease hexamers.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Laura Vicente-Vicente, Alfredo G. Casanova, M. Teresa Hernandez-Sanchez, Marta Prieto, Carlos Martinez-Salgado, Francisco J. Lopez-Hernandez, Ignacio Cruz-Gonzalez, Ana I. Morales
Summary: The study evaluated the ability of novel biomarkers to detect patients susceptible to CIN before contrast media administration. Urinary albumin was found to have the highest diagnostic power in predicting CIN.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Biographical-Item
Anesthesiology
David L. H. Bennett, Elizabeth J. Bradbury, Gary R. Lewin, Andrew S. C. Rice
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valerie Begay, Branko Cirovic, Alison J. Barker, Robert Klopfleisch, Daniel W. Hart, Nigel C. Bennett, Gary R. Lewin
Summary: The spleen of naked mole-rats differs from that of other rodents in terms of anatomy, molecular composition, and function. Healthy naked mole-rats show variation in spleen size, with enlarged spleens associated with better immune profiles and higher social rank within the colony.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar J. Pellicer-Valero, Giampiero A. Massaro, Alfredo G. Casanova, Maria Paniagua-Sancho, Isabel Fuentes-Calvo, Mykola Harvat, Jose D. Martin-Guerrero, Carlos Martinez-Salgado, Francisco J. Lopez-Hernandez
Summary: Glomerular filtration is a vital process of renal physiology and its abnormalities are associated with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. A neural network-based calculator for rat creatinine clearance has been developed, which accurately predicts the clearance rate using plasma creatinine and body weight. The calculator is particularly effective in comparing clearance rates among different groups within the same experiment.
Article
Neurosciences
Elijah D. Lowenstein, Pierre-Louis Ruffault, Aristotelis Misios, Kate L. Osman, Huimin Li, Rachel S. Greenberg, Rebecca Thompson, Kun Song, Stephan Dietrich, Xun Li, Nikita Vladimirov, Andrew Woehler, Jean-Francois Brunet, Niccolo Zampieri, Ralf Kuhn, Stephen D. Liberles, Shiqi Jia, Gary R. Lewin, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Teresa E. Lever, Carmen Birchmeier
Summary: This study identified and characterized subtypes of vagal sensory neurons expressing Prox2 and Runx3 in mice using genetic and electrophysiological methods. Three subtypes were found to innervate the esophagus and stomach in regionalized patterns and play essential roles in esophageal peristalsis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timo A. Nees, Na Wang, Pavel Adamek, Nadja Zeitzschel, Clement Verkest, Carmen La Porta, Irina Schaefer, Julie Virnich, Selin Balkaya, Vincenzo Prato, Chiara Morelli, Valerie Begay, Young Jae Lee, Anke Tappe-Theodor, Gary R. Lewin, Paul A. Heppenstall, Francisco J. Taberner, Stefan G. Lechner
Summary: In this study, Nees. et al. found that inflammation-induced upregulation of TMEM100 can sensitize silent nociceptors, leading to secondary mechanical pain hypersensitivity. They showed that TMEM100 expression is increased in silent nociceptors during inflammation, and over-expression of TMEM100 is sufficient to un-silence silent nociceptors in mice. Furthermore, they demonstrated that TMEM100 is essential for the development of secondary mechanical hypersensitivity during knee joint inflammation, and its overexpression can induce mechanical hypersensitivity in remote skin regions without causing knee joint pain. This work identifies TMEM100 as a key regulator of silent nociceptor un-silencing and uncovers its role in triggering spatially remote secondary mechanical hypersensitivity during inflammation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)