Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors.

TitleActivity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsSantiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD
JournalbioRxiv
Date Published2023 Sep 25
Abstract

We report a role for activity in the development of the primary sensory neurons that detect touch. Genetic deletion of Piezo2, the principal mechanosensitive ion channel in somatosensory neurons, caused profound changes in the formation of mechanosensory end organ structures and altered somatosensory neuron central targeting. Single cell RNA sequencing of Piezo2 conditional mutants revealed changes in gene expression in the sensory neurons activated by light mechanical forces, whereas other neuronal classes were less affected. To further test the role of activity in mechanosensory end organ development, we genetically deleted the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 (Scn8a) in somatosensory neurons throughout development and found that Scn8a mutants also have disrupted somatosensory neuron morphologies and altered electrophysiological responses to mechanical stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that mechanically evoked neuronal activity acts early in life to shape the maturation of the mechanosensory end organs that underlie our sense of gentle touch.

DOI10.1101/2023.09.23.559109
Alternate JournalbioRxiv
PubMed ID37790437
PubMed Central IDPMC10542488
Grant ListR35 NS097344 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
K99 NS124993 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
P50 HD105351 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
R01 AT011447 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
DP2 NS127278 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States

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