Article
Biology
Ara Schorscher-Petcu, Flora Takacs, Liam E. Browne
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of optogenetic stimulation to achieve "remote touch", uncovering different behavioral responses in mice with specific somatosensory inputs. These findings can be used to define specific behavioral repertoires, examine the timing and nature of reflexes, and dissect sensory, motor, cognitive, and motivational processes guiding behavior.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
K. C. Elina, Hyeong Cheol Moon, Jaisan Islam, Hyong Kyu Kim, Young Seok Park
Summary: Research has shown that optogenetic inhibition of the ACC can improve neuropathic pain caused by nerve injury and has a significant analgesic effect on mechanical and thermal sensitivity. The study also found that hyperactivity of the ACC in nerve injury may affect output to the spinothalamic tract through direct or indirect pathways.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wei Gao, Dan-dan Long, Ting-ting Pan, Rui Hu, Dan-yang Chen, Yu Mao, Xiao-qing Chai, Yan Jin, Zhi Zhang, Di Wang
Summary: The study suggests that dexmedetomidine can alleviate anxiety symptoms caused by chronic pain, and its mechanism of action may be related to reducing the excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Dan-dan Long, Yu-zhuo Zhang, An Liu, Liang Shen, Hong-rui Wei, Qian-qian Lou, Shan-shan Hu, Dan-yang Chen, Xiao-qing Chai, Di Wang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of chronic nicotine exposure on ACC microglia and their interaction with ACC neurons, as well as the effects on nicotine-induced allodynia in mice. The results demonstrate that chronic nicotine treatment leads to alterations in ACC microglia and hyperactivity of ACC glutamatergic neurons. Inhibiting ACC glutamatergic neurons alleviates nicotine-induced allodynia and reduces microglial activation. Furthermore, the neuron-microglia interaction in chronic nicotine-induced allodynia is mediated by increased expression of neuronal CX3CL1, which activates microglia via CX3CR1 receptors.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Norbert Hogrefe, Sigrid M. Blom, Kristina Valentinova, Niels R. Ntamati, Lotte J. E. Jonker, Natalie E. Nevian, Thomas Nevian
Summary: Malfunctioning synaptic plasticity is a major mechanism in the development of chronic pain. This study shows that even after recovery, the impact of chronic compression injury on synaptic plasticity persists.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luca F. Kaiser, Theo O. J. Gruendler, Oliver Speck, Lennart Luettgau, Gerhard Jocham
Summary: The balance between excitation and inhibition in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex plays a role in patch-leaving decisions, while the same balance in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is related to value-guided decision-making. This differential relationship highlights the importance of weighing immediate rewards against long-term gains in different cortical areas.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Joungha Won, Yuriy Pankratov, Minwoo Wendy Jang, Sunpil Kim, Yeon Ha Ju, Sangkyu Lee, Seung Eun Lee, Arie Kim, Soowon Park, C. Justin Lee, Won Do Heo
Summary: Spatiotemporal control of brain activity can be achieved using Opto-vTrap, which is a light-inducible and reversible system that temporarily inhibits the release of neurotransmitters. Opto-vTrap significantly reduces synaptic and gliotransmission, leading to inhibition of hippocampus-dependent memory retrieval.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Andrea M. Harriott, David Y. Chung, Aylin Uner, Refik O. Bozdayi, Andreia Morais, Tsubasa Takizawa, Tao Qin, Cenk Ayata
Summary: The study used a minimally invasive optogenetic method to induce SD and found that a single SD caused bilateral periorbital mechanical allodynia, while repeated SDs also produced bilateral periorbital mechanical allodynia that lasted for 4 days. Repeated SDs increased anxiety behavior and facial expression pain scores, but did not affect working memory.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jaisan Islam, Elina Kc, Kyoung Ha So, Soochong Kim, Hyong Kyu Kim, Yoon Young Park, Young Seok Park
Summary: Our study found that optogenetic inhibition of the posterior hypothalamus significantly improved behavioral responses in trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) animals. We also observed increased firing activity in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and decreased firing activity in the ventral posteromedial thalamus during optogenetic inhibition of the posterior hypothalamus. By modulating these areas, inhibiting the posterior hypothalamus can attenuate trigeminal pain signal transmission, providing evidence of its therapeutic potential in TNP management.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Karel W. F. Scheepstra, Mark R. Mizee, Jackelien van Scheppingen, Adelia Adelia, Dennis D. Wever, Matthew R. J. Mason, Marissa L. Dubbelaar, Cheng-Chih Hsiao, Bart J. L. Eggen, Jorg Hamann, Inge Huitinga
Summary: This study indicates an immune-suppressed microglial phenotype in MDD that is possibly caused by neuronal regulation.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Xia Zhu, Hao-Di Tang, Wan-Ying Dong, Fang Kang, An Liu, Yu Mao, Wen Xie, Xulai Zhang, Peng Cao, Wenjie Zhou, Haitao Wang, Zahra Farzinpour, Wenjuan Tao, Xiaoyuan Song, Yan Zhang, Tian Xue, Yan Jin, Juan Li, Zhi Zhang
Summary: In mice, tissue injury and depression can both cause pain hypersensitivity through distinct thalamocortical circuits involving glutamatergic neurons. While the posterior thalamic nucleus to primary somatosensory cortex circuit mediates allodynia from tissue injury, the parafascicular thalamic nucleus to anterior cingulate cortex circuit mediates allodynia associated with depression-like states. Manipulating these circuits affects allodynia from either tissue injury or depression-like states separately.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Chenghui Pi, Wenjing Tang, Zhishuai Li, Yang Liu, Qi Jing, Wei Dai, Tao Wang, Chunxiao Yang, Shengyuan Yu
Summary: This study established a minimally invasive optogenetic CSD model and identified the active networks after CSD using whole-brain activity mapping. The optogenetic CSD model showed behaviors mimicking headache and photophobia and activated multiple sensory cortical regions without involving the thalamus or trigeminal nucleus caudalis.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Frank Mazza, Alexandre Guet-McCreight, Taufik A. Valiante, John D. Griffiths, Etay Hay
Summary: By simulating the activity of human cortical microcircuits and EEG signals, researchers found that individuals with depression showed increased frequency and power in their EEG, which can serve as biomarkers for different subtypes of depression and non-invasively monitor cortical inhibition modulation.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria Medalla, Wayne Chang, Sara Ibanez, Teresa Guillamon-Vivancos, Mathias Nittmann, Anastasia Kapitonava, Silas E. Busch, Tara L. Moore, Douglas L. Rosene, Jennifer Luebke
Summary: The study revealed that the anterior cingulate cortex in rhesus monkeys exhibits specialized motor and affective network dynamics through layer-specific biophysical and structural properties of pyramidal neurons. Neurons targeting the amygdala were found to be more excitable and tuned to slow oscillations, while neurons targeting the dorsal premotor cortex showed strong beta/gamma synchrony implicated in rapid sensorimotor processing. These findings highlight the role of layer-specific cellular and circuit properties in driving diverse laminar activity related to flexible behavior.
Article
Cell Biology
Claudia Miguel-Quesada, Marta Zaforas, Salvador Herrera-Perez, Justin Lines, Elena Fernandez-Lopez, Elena Alonso-Calvino, Maria Ardaya, Federico N. Soria, Alfonso Araque, Juan Aguilar, Juliana M. Rosa
Summary: In this study, the researchers observed and manipulated the activity of astrocytes to investigate their role in sensory information processing at both circuit and behavioral levels. They found that astrocytes are able to control the dynamic range of cortical network activity, optimizing its responsiveness to sensory inputs. This astrocytic modulation of sensory processing helps to set the detection threshold for tactile and thermal behavior responses. The researchers also discovered that astrocytes achieve this control by modulating inhibitory transmission to adjust the gain and sensitivity of responding networks.
Article
Anesthesiology
Iryna A. Khasabova, Sergey G. Khasabov, Julie K. Olson, Megan L. Uhelski, Amy H. Kim, Alejandra M. Albino-Ramirez, Chad L. Wagner, Virginia S. Seybold, Donald A. Simone
Article
Hematology
Iryna A. Khasabova, Megan Uhelski, Sergey G. Khasabov, Kalpna Gupta, Virginia S. Seybold, Donald A. Simone
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ana G. Hernandez-Reynoso, Shrenevas Nandam, Jonathan M. O'Brien, Aswini Kanneganti, Stuart F. Cogan, Daniel K. Freeman, Mario Romero-Ortega
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Allison M. Stiller, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Jennifer M. Boothby, Sydney E. Sherman, Jasmyn Benavides, Mario Romero-Ortega, Joseph J. Pancrazio, Bryan J. Black
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2019)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Dora Luz Corona-Quintanilla, Rhode Lopez-Juarez, Pablo Pacheco, Mario Romero-Ortega, Francisco Castelan, Margarita Martinez-Gomez
NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS
(2020)
Article
Anesthesiology
Juan P. Cata, Miguel Patino, Aysegul Gorur, Kim N. Du, Megan L. Uhelski, Jeffrey Myers, Stephen Lai, M. Laura Rubin, Patrick M. Dougherty, Pascal Owusu-Agyemang
Article
Anesthesiology
Megan L. Uhelski, Brian McAdams, Malcolm E. Johns, Rajiv A. Kabadi, Donald A. Simone, Ratan K. Banik
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2020)
Article
Anesthesiology
Yan Li, Tejaswi Marri, Robert Y. North, Haley R. Rhodes, Megan L. Uhelski, Claudio E. Tatsui, Laurence D. Rhines, Ganesh Rao, German Corrales, Taylor J. Abercrombie, Caj A. Johansson, Patrick M. Dougherty
Summary: The study focused on investigating the mechanisms of acute toxicity produced by paclitaxel treatment on primary sensory neurons under in vitro conditions. The results demonstrated an increase in pERK, pp38, and CCL2 at 2 hours of exposure, followed by sustained increase in pERK at 48 hours along with increased expression of TLR4, MyD88, and IL-6. The responses observed in the in vitro study closely mirrored those seen in vivo with paclitaxel exposure.
Article
Biology
Maria A. Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Geetanjali S. Bendale, Kezhong Wang, Gordon G. Wallace, Mario Romero-Ortega
Summary: The study successfully utilizes platinized reduced graphene oxide fibers as electrodes to interface with multiple splenic neurovascular plexus, revealing differential activity and axon composition among splenic nerve terminal branches. The findings demonstrate asymmetrical defasciculation of the nerve branches and functional compartmentalization in spleen innervation in response to hypoxia and pharmacological modulation of mean arterial pressure. Additionally, electrical stimulation of cervical and sub-diaphragmatic vagus nerve evokes activity in a subset of splenic nerve terminal branches, suggesting a direct vagus nerve control over the spleen.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Juan P. Cata, Megan L. Uhelski, Aysegul Gorur, Siddhant Bhoir, Nisa Ilsin, Patrick M. Dougherty
Summary: Cancer is a significant global public health issue, and pain has a significant impact on the lives of cancer patients and survivors. Prescription opioids remain the preferred analgesic for treating moderate-to-severe cancer-related pain, but there is controversy over their impact on cancer progression. This review summarizes the current evidence on the role of the mu-opioid receptor in cancer growth and provides preliminary evidence on its effect on the cross-talk between sensory neurons and malignant cells.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Pradipta R. Ray, Stephanie Shiers, James P. Caruso, Diana Tavares-Ferreira, Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan, Megan L. Uhelski, Yan Li, Robert Y. North, Claudio Tatsui, Gregory Dussor, Michael D. Burton, Patrick M. Dougherty, Theodore J. Price
Summary: This study characterized the molecular changes in pain-associated human dorsal root ganglia in patients undergoing thoracic vertebrectomy, revealing sex differences in underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain. The findings provide important insights for pain treatment.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Seelay Tasmim, Zuha Yousuf, Farial S. Rahman, Emily Seelig, Abigail J. Clevenger, Sabrina N. VandenHeuvel, Cedric P. Ambulo, Shreya Raghavan, Philippe E. Zimmern, Mario I. Romero-Ortega, Taylor H. Ware
Summary: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary loss of urine due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. This study reports the fabrication of a novel device based on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) that can change shape in response to temperature increase induced by transcutaneous IR light. The device was tested in a scar tissue phantom model and in an in vitro urinary tract model, and was acutely implanted and tested in female rabbits.
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Maria A. Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Atefe Ghazavi, Stuart Cogan, Mario Romero-Ortega
Summary: This study implemented a ultra-small multi-electrode arrays to detect sensory signals with high precision, allowing for discrimination between different types of sensations and neural subtypes. It offers a viable alternative for providing tactile feedback in limb prosthesis technology.
2023 11TH INTERNATIONAL IEEE/EMBS CONFERENCE ON NEURAL ENGINEERING, NER
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Megan L. Uhelski, Aysegul Gorur, Ted Shi, German Corrales, Kim N. Du, Yan Li, Moran Amit, Claudio E. Tatsui, Laurence D. Rhines, Patrick M. Dougherty, Juan P. Cata
Summary: This study found that inflammation contributes to preoperative pain in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. In an in vitro coculture model, cancer cells affected the electrical membrane properties of sensory neurons, promoting neuronal hyperexcitability. Additionally, the effects varied across sex and age groups.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Steven J. Middleton, Allison M. Barry, Maddalena Comini, Yan Li, Pradipta R. Ray, Stephanie Shiers, Andreas C. Themistocleous, Megan L. Uhelski, Xun Yang, Patrick M. Dougherty, Theodore J. Price, David L. Bennett
Summary: Studying human nociceptors has led to significant advances in understanding chronic pain mechanisms and identifying potential new therapeutic targets. However, challenges remain in implementing these techniques at scale, generating a full diversity of nociceptor populations from induced pluripotent stem cells, and understanding inter-individual variation in nociceptors.