Transcriptional Profiling of Cutaneous MRGPRD Free Nerve Endings and C-LTMRs

Ana Reynders (1) , Annabelle Mantilleri (1) , Pascale Malapert (1) , Stéphanie Rialle (2) , Sabine Nidelet (2) , Sophie Laffray (2) , Corinne Beurrier (1) , Emmanuel Bourinet (2) , Aziz Moqrich (1)

1 IBDM - Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille
2 IGF - Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle

Cutaneous C-unmyelinated MRGPRD(+) free nerve endings and C-LTMRs innervating hair follicles convey two opposite aspects of touch sensation: a sensation of pain and a sensation of pleasant touch. The molecular mechanisms underlying these diametrically opposite functions are unknown. Here, we used a mouse model that genetically marks C-LTMRs and MRGPRD(+) neurons in combination with fluorescent cell surface labeling, flow cytometry, and RNA deep-sequencing technology (RNA-seq). Cluster analysis of RNA-seq profiles of the purified neuronal subsets revealed 486 and 549 genes differentially expressed in MRGPRD-expressing neurons and C-LTMRs, respectively. We validated 48 MRGPD- and 68 C-LTMRs-enriched genes using a triple-staining approach, and the Ca(v)3.3 channel, found to be exclusively expressed in C-LTMRs, was validated using electrophysiology. Our study greatly expands the molecular characterization of C-LTMRs and suggests that this particular population of neurons shares some molecular features with A beta and A delta low-threshold mechanoreceptors.

Keywords: MECHANORECEPTORS; FIBERS; PAIN; DORSAL-ROOT GANGLIA; DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION ANALYSIS; CALCIUM-CHANNELS; SENSORY NEURONS; SIGNAL TOUCH; RECEPTOR; IDENTIFICATION

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Development Biology

Ana Reynders, Annabelle Mantilleri, Pascale Malapert, Stéphanie Rialle, Sabine Nidelet, et al.. Transcriptional Profiling of Cutaneous MRGPRD Free Nerve Endings and C-LTMRs. Cell Reports, 2015, 10 (6), pp.1007-1019. ⟨10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.022⟩. ⟨hal-01219864⟩