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The Journal of Neuroscience, August 16, 2006, 26(33):8578-8587; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2185-06.2006

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Development/Plasticity/Repair
Artemin Overexpression in Skin Enhances Expression of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in Cutaneous Sensory Neurons and Leads to Behavioral Sensitivity to Heat and Cold

Christopher M. Elitt,^2 * Sabrina L. McIlwrath,^1 * Jeffery J. Lawson,¹ Sacha A. Malin,² Derek C. Molliver,² Pamela K. Cornuet,² H. Richard Koerber,¹ Brian M. Davis,^1,2 and Kathryn M. Albers^1,2

Departments of ¹Neurobiology and ²Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Kathryn M. Albers, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Scaife Hall, Room S857, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. Email: kaa2{at}pitt.edu

Artemin, a neuronal survival factor in the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family, binds the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein GFR3 and the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. Expression of the GFR3 receptor is primarily restricted to the peripheral nervous system and is found in a subpopulation of nociceptive sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) that coexpress the Ret and TrkA receptor tyrosine kinases and the thermosensitive channel TRPV1. To determine how artemin affects sensory neuron properties, transgenic mice that overexpress artemin in skin keratinocytes (ART-OE mice) were analyzed. Expression of artemin caused a 20.5% increase in DRG neuron number and increased the level of mRNA encoding GFR3, TrkA, TRPV1, and the putative noxious cold-detecting channel TRPA1. Nearly all GFR3-positive neurons expressed TRPV1 immunoreactivity, and most of these neurons were also positive for TRPA1. Interestingly, acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1, 2a, 2b, and 3 mRNAs were decreased in the DRG, and this reduction was strongest in females. Analysis of sensory neuron physiological properties using an ex vivo preparation showed that cutaneous C-fiber nociceptors of ART-OE mice had reduced heat thresholds and increased firing rates in response to a heat ramp. No change in mechanical threshold was detected. Behavioral testing of ART-OE mice showed that they had increased sensitivity to both heat and noxious cold. These results indicate that the level of artemin in the skin modulates gene expression and response properties of afferents that project to the skin and that these changes lead to behavioral sensitivity to both hot and cold stimuli.

Key words: sensory neuron; skin; pain; thermal sensitivity; gene expression; DRG

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Received March 17, 2006; revised June 23, 2006; accepted June 24, 2006.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Kathryn M. Albers, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Scaife Hall, Room S857, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. Email: kaa2{at}pitt.edu

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