The CysLT2R receptor mediates leukotriene C4-driven acute and chronic itch

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

2021 Mar 30

Voisin, T;Perner, C;Messou, MA;Shiers, S;Ualiyeva, S;Kanaoka, Y;Price, TJ;Sokol, CL;Bankova, LG;Austen, KF;Chiu, IM;
PMID: 33753496 | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022087118

Acute and chronic itch are burdensome manifestations of skin pathologies including allergic skin diseases and atopic dermatitis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), comprising LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4, are produced by immune cells during type 2 inflammation. Here, we uncover a role for LTC4 and its signaling through the CysLT receptor 2 (CysLT2R) in itch. Cysltr2 transcript is highly expressed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons linked to itch in mice. We also detected CYSLTR2 in a broad population of human DRG neurons. Injection of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) or its nonhydrolyzable form NMLTC4, but neither LTD4 nor LTE4, induced dose-dependent itch but not pain behaviors in mice. LTC4-mediated itch differed in bout duration and kinetics from pruritogens histamine, compound 48/80, and chloroquine. NMLTC4-induced itch was abrogated in mice deficient for Cysltr2 or when deficiency was restricted to radioresistant cells. Itch was unaffected in mice deficient for Cysltr1, Trpv1, or mast cells (WSh mice). CysLT2R played a role in itch in the MC903 mouse model of chronic itch and dermatitis, but not in models of dry skin or compound 48/80- or Alternaria-induced itch. In MC903-treated mice, CysLT levels increased in skin over time, and Cysltr2-/- mice showed decreased itch in the chronic phase of inflammation. Collectively, our study reveals that LTC4 acts through CysLT2R as its physiological receptor to induce itch, and CysLT2R contributes to itch in a model of dermatitis. Therefore, targeting CysLT signaling may be a promising approach to treat inflammatory itch.

Adult-induced genetic ablation distinguishes PDGFB roles in blood-brain barrier maintenance and development

Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism

2021 Oct 25

Vazquez-Liebanas, E;Nahar, K;Bertuzzi, G;Keller, A;Betsholtz, C;Mäe, MA;
PMID: 34689641 | DOI: 10.1177/0271678X211056395

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) released from endothelial cells is indispensable for pericyte recruitment during angiogenesis in embryonic and postnatal organ growth. Constitutive genetic loss-of-function of PDGFB leads to pericyte hypoplasia and the formation of a sparse, dilated and venous-shifted brain microvasculature with dysfunctional blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice, as well as the formation of microvascular calcification in both mice and humans. Endothelial PDGFB is also expressed in the adult quiescent microvasculature, but here its importance is unknown. We show that deletion of Pdgfb in endothelial cells in 2-months-old mice causes a slowly progressing pericyte loss leading, at 12-18 months of age, to ≈50% decrease in endothelial:pericyte cell ratio, ≈60% decrease in pericyte longitudinal capillary coverage and >70% decrease in pericyte marker expression. Similar to constitutive loss of Pdgfb, this correlates with increased BBB permeability. However, in contrast to the constitutive loss of Pdgfb, adult-induced loss does not lead to vessel dilation, impaired arterio-venous zonation or the formation of microvascular calcifications. We conclude that PDFGB expression in quiescent adult microvascular brain endothelium is critical for the maintenance of pericyte coverage and normal BBB function, but that microvessel dilation, rarefaction, arterio-venous skewing and calcification reflect developmental roles of PDGFB.

Combined genetic deletion of GDF15 and FGF21 has modest effects on body weight, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in high fat fed mice

Molecular metabolism

2022 Sep 02

Patel, S;Haider, A;Alvarez-Guaita, A;Bidault, G;El-Sayed Moustafa, JS;Guiu-Jurado, E;Tadross, JA;Warner, J;Harrison, J;Virtue, S;Scurria, F;Zvetkova, I;Blüher, M;Small, KS;O'Rahilly, S;Savage, DB;
PMID: 36064109 | DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101589

Obesity in humans and mice is associated with elevated levels of two hormones responsive to cellular stress, namely GDF15 and FGF21. Over-expression of each of these is associated with weight loss and beneficial metabolic changes but where they are secreted from and what they are required for physiologically in the context of overfeeding remains unclear.Here we used tissue selective knockout mouse models and human transcriptomics to determine the source of circulating GDF15 in obesity. We then generated and characterized the metabolic phenotypes of GDF15/FGF21 double knockout mice.Circulating GDF15 and FGF21 are both largely derived from the liver, rather than adipose tissue or skeletal muscle, in obese states. Combined whole body deletion of FGF21 and GDF15 does not result in any additional weight gain in response to high fat feeding but it does result in significantly greater hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance than that seen in GDF15 single knockout mice.Collectively the data suggest that overfeeding activates a stress response in the liver which is the major source of systemic rises in GDF15 and FGF21. These hormones then activate pathways which reduce this metabolic stress.

High protein and mRNA expression levels of TUBB3 (class III ß-tubulin) are associated with aggressive tumor features in esophageal adenocarcinomas.

Oncotarget.

2017 Dec 11

Loeser H, Schallenberg S, von Winterfeld M, Tharun L, Alakus H, Hölscher A, Bollschweiler E, Buettner R, Zander T, Quaas A.
PMID: 29383151 | DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23112

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Esophageal adenocarcinomas show an increasing incidence in the Western world and their overall survival remains low. Microtubules are multifunctional cytoskeletal proteins involved in crucial cellular roles, including maintenance of cell shape, intracellular transport, meiosis, and mitosis. Microtubulus-TUBB3 was found overexpressed in several carcinomas suggesting a significant role in cancer development. High levels of TUBB3 expression were also described to be associated with poor clinical outcome in various cancers. It was shown that overexpression of TUBB3 could be related to reduced efficiency of taxane-based targeting anticancer drugs in several cancer types.

RESULTS:

There is a statistically significant association between high TUBB3 protein and TUBB3 mRNA expression and shortened survival (p<0,0001). Prognostic impact of TUBB3 expression is seen in patients with and without multimodal treatment. Multivariate analysis revealed a strong TUBB3 expression to be an independent prognosis factor. Validation of protein expression by mRNA in situ hybridization underlines the credibility of the immunohistochemical results.

DISCUSSION:

Our study emphasized the significant importance of TUBB3 in esophageal adenocarcinoma. TUBB3 serves as an independent prognostic marker and may be a valuable biomarker for routine application in esophageal adenocarcinoma especially to address the need for adjuvant treatment in individuals following neoadjuvant therapy and surgery. Future prospective studies are needed which include the results of TUBB3 in preoperative biopsy material to proof the prognostic impact of TUBB3.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

280 esophageal adenocarcinomas that underwent primary surgical resection or resection after neoadjuvant therapy were analyzed by mRNA-in-situ-hybridization (RNAscope™) and by immunohistochemistry (TUBB3 rabbit monoclonal antibody; Epitomics).

Prolonged breastfeeding protects from obesity by hypothalamic action of hepatic FGF21

Nature metabolism

2022 Jul 01

Pena-Leon, V;Folgueira, C;Barja-Fernández, S;Pérez-Lois, R;Da Silva Lima, N;Martin, M;Heras, V;Martinez-Martinez, S;Valero, P;Iglesias, C;Duquenne, M;Al-Massadi, O;Beiroa, D;Souto, Y;Fidalgo, M;Sowmyalakshmi, R;Guallar, D;Cunarro, J;Castelao, C;Senra, A;González-Saenz, P;Vázquez-Cobela, R;Leis, R;Sabio, G;Mueller-Fielitz, H;Schwaninger, M;López, M;Tovar, S;Casanueva, FF;Valjent, E;Diéguez, C;Prevot, V;Nogueiras, R;Seoane, LM;
PMID: 35879461 | DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00602-z

Early-life determinants are thought to be a major factor in the rapid increase of obesity. However, while maternal nutrition has been extensively studied, the effects of breastfeeding by the infant on the reprogramming of energy balance in childhood and throughout adulthood remain largely unknown. Here we show that delayed weaning in rat pups protects them against diet-induced obesity in adulthood, through enhanced brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and energy expenditure. In-depth metabolic phenotyping in this rat model as well as in transgenic mice reveals that the effects of prolonged suckling are mediated by increased hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) production and tanycyte-controlled access to the hypothalamus in adulthood. Specifically, FGF21 activates GABA-containing neurons expressing dopamine receptor 2 in the lateral hypothalamic area and zona incerta. Prolonged breastfeeding thus constitutes a protective mechanism against obesity by affecting long-lasting physiological changes in liver-to-hypothalamus communication and hypothalamic metabolic regulation.

Translatomic analysis of regenerating and degenerating spinal motor neurons in injury and ALS

iScience

2021 Jul 01

Shadrach, J;Stansberry, W;Milen, A;Ives, R;Fogarty, E;Antonellis, A;Pierchala, B;
| DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102700

The neuromuscular junction is a synapse critical for muscle strength and coordinated motor function. Unlike CNS injuries, motor neurons mount robust regenerative responses after peripheral nerve injuries. Conversely, motor neurons selectively degenerate in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To assess how these insults affect motor neurons in vivo, we performed ribosomal profiling of mouse motor neurons. Motor neuron-specific transcripts were isolated from spinal cords following sciatic nerve crush, a model of acute injury and regeneration, and in the SOD1G93A ALS model. Of the 267 transcripts upregulated after nerve crush, 38% were also upregulated in SOD1G93A motor neurons. However, most upregulated genes in injured and ALS motor neurons were context specific. Some of the most significantly upregulated transcripts in both paradigms were chemokines such as Ccl2 and Ccl7, suggesting an important role for neuroimmune modulation. Collectively these data will aid in defining pro-regenerative and pro-degenerative mechanisms in motor neurons.

Nav1.7 gain-of-function mutation I228M triggers age-dependent nociceptive insensitivity and C-LTMR dysregulation

Experimental neurology

2023 Mar 30

Wimalasena, NK;Taub, DG;Shim, J;Hakim, S;Kawaguchi, R;Chen, L;El-Rifai, M;Geschwind, D;Dib-Hajj, SD;Waxman, SG;Woolf, CJ;
PMID: 37003485 | DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114393

Gain-of-function mutations in Scn9a, which encodes the peripheral sensory neuron-enriched voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7, cause paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD), inherited erythromelalgia (IEM), and small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Conversely, loss-of-function mutations in the gene are linked to congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). These mutations are evidence for a link between altered sodium conductance and neuronal excitability leading to somatosensory aberrations, pain, or its loss. Our previous work in young adult mice with the Nav1.7 gain-of-function mutation, I228M, showed the expected DRG neuron hyperexcitability, but unexpectedly the mice had normal mechanical and thermal behavioral sensitivity. We now show that with aging both male and female mice with this mutation unexpectedly develop a profound insensitivity to noxious heat and cold, as well skin lesions that span the body. Electrophysiology demonstrates that, in contrast to young mice, aged I228M mouse DRGs have a profound loss of sodium conductance and changes in activation and slow inactivation dynamics, representing a loss-of-function. Through RNA sequencing we explored how these age-related changes may produce the phenotypic changes and found a striking and specific decrease in C-low threshold mechanoreceptor- (cLTMR) associated gene expression, suggesting a potential contribution of this DRG neuron subtype to Nav1.7 dysfunction phenotypes. A GOF mutation in a voltage-gated channel can therefore produce over a prolonged time, highly complex and unexpected alterations in the nervous system beyond excitability changes.

Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction Activates the Integrated Stress Response to Induce Fibroblast Growth Factor 21

Cell Rep.

2018 Aug 07

Restelli LM, Oettinghaus B, Halliday M, Agca C, Licci M, Sironi L, Savoia C, Hench J, Tolnay M, Neutzner A, Schmidt A, Eckert A, Mallucci G, Scorrano L, Frank S.
PMID: 30089252 | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.023

Stress adaptation is essential for neuronal health. While the fundamental role of mitochondria in neuronal development has been demonstrated, it is still not clear how adult neurons respond to alterations in mitochondrial function and how neurons sense, signal, and respond to dysfunction of mitochondria and their interacting organelles. Here, we show that neuron-specific, inducible in vivo ablation of the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 causes ER stress, resulting in activation of the integrated stress response to culminate in neuronal expression of the cytokine Fgf21. Neuron-derived Fgf21 induction occurs also in murine models of tauopathy and prion disease, highlighting the potential of this cytokine as an early biomarker for latent neurodegenerative conditions.

Diversity amongst trigeminal neurons revealed by high throughput single cell sequencing

PLoS ONE

2017 Sep 28

Nguyen MQ, Wu Y, Bonilla LS, von Buchholtz LJ, Ryba NJP.
PMID: 28957441 | DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185543

The trigeminal ganglion contains somatosensory neurons that detect a range of thermal, mechanical and chemical cues and innervate unique sensory compartments in the head and neck including the eyes, nose, mouth, meninges and vibrissae. We used single-cell sequencing and in situ hybridization to examine the cellular diversity of the trigeminal ganglion in mice, defining thirteen clusters of neurons. We show that clusters are well conserved in dorsal root ganglia suggesting they represent distinct functional classes of somatosensory neurons and not specialization associated with their sensory targets. Notably, functionally important genes (e.g. the mechanosensory channel Piezo2 and the capsaicin gated ion channel Trpv1) segregate into multiple clusters and often are expressed in subsets of cells within a cluster. Therefore, the 13 genetically-defined classes are likely to be physiologically heterogeneous rather than highly parallel (i.e., redundant) lines of sensory input. Our analysis harnesses the power of single-cell sequencing to provide a unique platform for in silico expression profiling that complements other approaches linking gene-expression with function and exposes unexpected diversity in the somatosensory system.

Promoting regeneration while blocking cell death preserves motor neuron function in a model of ALS

Brain : a journal of neurology

2022 Nov 07

Wlaschin, JJ;Donahue, C;Gluski, J;Osborne, JF;Ramos, LM;Silberberg, H;Le Pichon, CE;
PMID: 36342754 | DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac415

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a devastating and fatal neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with very few treatment options. We had previously found that motor neuron degeneration in a mouse model of ALS can be delayed by deleting the axon damage sensor MAP3K12 or Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase (DLK)1. However, DLK is also involved in axon regeneration2-5, prompting us to ask whether combining DLK deletion with a way to promote axon regeneration would result in greater motor neuron protection. To achieve this, we used a mouse line that constitutively expresses ATF3, a master regulator of regeneration in neurons6,7. Although there is precedence for each individual strategy in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS1,8, these have not previously been combined. By several lines of evidence including motor neuron electrophysiology, histology and behavior, we observed a powerful synergy when combining DLK deletion with ATF3 expression. The combinatorial strategy resulted in significant protection of motor neurons with fewer undergoing cell death, reduced axon degeneration, and preservation of motor function and connectivity to muscle. This study provides a demonstration of the power of combinatorial therapy to treat neurodegenerative disease.

Astrocyte-Secreted Chordin-like 1 Drives Synapse Maturation and Limits Plasticity by Increasing Synaptic GluA2 AMPA Receptors.

Neuron. 2018 Oct 12.

2018 Oct 12

Blanco-Suarez E, Liu TF, Kopelevich A, Allen NJ.
PMID: 30344043 | DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.09.043

In the developing brain, immature synapses contain calcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) that are subsequently replaced with GluA2-containing calcium-impermeable AMPARs as synapses stabilize and mature. Here, we show that this essential switch in AMPARs and neuronal synapse maturation is regulated by astrocytes. Using biochemical fractionation of astrocyte-secreted proteins and mass spectrometry, we identified that astrocyte-secreted chordin-like 1 (Chrdl1) is necessary and sufficient to induce mature GluA2-containing synapses to form. This function of Chrdl1 is independent of its role as an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Chrdl1 expression is restricted to cortical astrocytes in vivo, peaking at the time of the AMPAR switch. Chrdl1 knockout (KO) mice display reduced synaptic GluA2 AMPARs, altered kinetics of synaptic events, and enhanced remodeling in an in vivo plasticity assay. Studies have shown that humans with mutations in Chrdl1 display enhanced learning. Thus astrocytes, via the release of Chrdl1, promote GluA2-dependent synapse maturation and thereby limit synaptic plasticity.

Central FGF21 production regulates memory but not peripheral metabolism

Cell reports

2022 Aug 23

Zhou, B;Claflin, KE;Flippo, KH;Sullivan, AI;Asghari, A;Tadinada, SM;Jensen-Cody, SO;Abel, T;Potthoff, MJ;
PMID: 36001982 | DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111239

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a liver-derived endocrine hormone that functions to regulate energy homeostasis and macronutrient intake. Recently, FGF21 was reported to be produced and secreted from hypothalamic tanycytes, to regulate peripheral lipid metabolism; however, rigorous investigation of FGF21 expression in the brain has yet to be accomplished. Using a mouse model that drives CRE recombinase in FGF21-expressing cells, we demonstrate that FGF21 is not expressed in the hypothalamus, but instead is produced from the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), an essential brain region for spatial learning and memory. Furthermore, we find that central FGF21 produced in the RSC enhances spatial memory but does not regulate energy homeostasis or sugar intake. Finally, our data demonstrate that administration of FGF21 prolongs the duration of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus and enhances activation of hippocampal neurons. Thus, endogenous and pharmacological FGF21 appear to function in the hippocampus to enhance spatial memory.

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	Description
sense Example: Hs-LAG3-sense	Standard probes for RNA detection are in antisense. Sense probe is reverse complent to the corresponding antisense probe.
Intron# Example: Mm-Htt-intron2	Probe targets the indicated intron in the target gene, commonly used for pre-mRNA detection
Pool/Pan Example: Hs-CD3-pool (Hs-CD3D, Hs-CD3E, Hs-CD3G)	A mixture of multiple probe sets targeting multiple genes or transcripts
No-XSp Example: Hs-PDGFB-No-XMm	Does not cross detect with the species (Sp)
XSp Example: Rn-Pde9a-XMm	designed to cross detect with the species (Sp)
O# Example: Mm-Islr-O1	Alternative design targeting different regions of the same transcript or isoforms
CDS Example: Hs-SLC31A-CDS	Probe targets the protein-coding sequence only
EnEm	Probe targets exons n and m
En-Em	Probe targets region from exon n to exon m
Retired Nomenclature
tvn Example: Hs-LEPR-tv1	Designed to target transcript variant n
ORF Example: Hs-ACVRL1-ORF	Probe targets open reading frame
UTR Example: Hs-HTT-UTR-C3	Probe targets the untranslated region (non-protein-coding region) only
5UTR Example: Hs-GNRHR-5UTR	Probe targets the 5' untranslated region only
3UTR Example: Rn-Npy1r-3UTR	Probe targets the 3' untranslated region only
Pan Example: Pool	A mixture of multiple probe sets targeting multiple genes or transcripts

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