Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Life Sci. 2023 Nov 1;332:122120. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122120. Epub 2023 Sep 21.
AIMS: Nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity is one of major clinical symptoms in neuropathic pain patients. Understanding molecular mechanisms underlying this symptom is crucial for developing effective therapies. The present study was to investigate whether sensory neuron-specific long noncoding RNA (SS-lncRNA) predominantly expressed in small non-peptidergic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons repaired nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SS-lncRNA downregulation in the mas-related G protein-coupled receptor member D (Mrgprd)-expressed DRG neurons was rescued and mimicked by crossbreeding Mrgprd lines with Rosa26 knock-in mice and SS-lncRNA mice, respectively, followed by tamoxifen injection. KEY FINDINGS: Rescuing SS-lncRNA downregulation in the Mrgprd-expressed DRG neurons significantly reversed the spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced reduction of the calcium-activated potassium channel subfamily N member 1 (KCNN1) in these DRG neurons and alleviated the SNL-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, without affecting the SNL-induced heat and cold nociceptive hypersensitivities, on the ipsilateral side. Conversely, mimicking SS-lncRNA downregulation in the Mrgprd-expressed DRG neurons reduced basal KCNN1 expression in these DRG neurons and produced the enhanced response to mechanical stimulation, but not thermal and cold stimuli, on bilateral sides. Mechanistically, SS-lncRNA downregulation caused a reduction in its binding to lysine-specific demethylase 6B (KDM6B) and consequent recruitment of less KDM6B to Kcnn1 promoter and an increase of H3K27me3 enrichment in this promoter in injured DRG. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that SS-lncRNA downregulation in small non-peptidergic sensory neurons is required specifically for nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity likely through silencing KCNN1 expression caused by KDM6B-gated increase of H3K27me3 enrichment in Kcnn1 promoter in these neurons.
目的:神经损伤引起的机械性感觉过敏是神经病理性疼痛患者的主要临床症状之一。了解这种症状的分子机制对于开发有效的治疗方法至关重要。本研究旨在探讨感觉神经元特异性长非编码 RNA(SS-lncRNA),主要在小非肽能背根神经节(DRG)神经元中表达,是否能修复神经损伤引起的机械性感觉过敏。
材料和方法:通过分别与 Rosa26 敲入小鼠和 SS-lncRNA 小鼠杂交,用他莫昔芬注射,来挽救和模拟 Mrgprd 表达的 DRG 神经元中 SS-lncRNA 的下调。
主要发现:在 Mrgprd 表达的 DRG 神经元中挽救 SS-lncRNA 的下调,显著逆转了脊神经结扎(SNL)引起的这些 DRG 神经元中钙激活钾通道亚家族 N 成员 1(KCNN1)的减少,并缓解了 SNL 引起的机械性感觉过敏,而不影响 SNL 引起的热和冷痛觉过敏。相反,在 Mrgprd 表达的 DRG 神经元中模拟 SS-lncRNA 的下调,降低了这些 DRG 神经元中 KCNN1 的基础表达,并产生了双侧机械刺激的增强反应,但对热和冷刺激没有反应。在机制上,SS-lncRNA 的下调导致与其结合的赖氨酸特异性去甲基化酶 6B(KDM6B)减少,随后 KDM6B 募集到 Kcnn1 启动子的减少,以及在这个启动子中 H3K27me3 富集的增加。
意义:我们的发现表明,小非肽能感觉神经元中 SS-lncRNA 的下调特异性地需要神经损伤引起的机械性感觉过敏,可能是通过 KDM6B 门控增加 H3K27me3 在这些神经元中 Kcnn1 启动子上的富集,从而沉默 KCNN1 的表达。