Dynamic changes in the microRNA expression profile reveal multiple regulatory mechanisms in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain resulting from nerve lesions or dysfunction represents one of the most challenging neurological diseases to treat. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for causing these maladaptive responses can help develop novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for neuropathic pain. We performed a miRNA expression profiling study of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissue from rats four weeks post spinal nerve ligation (SNL), a model of neuropathic pain. TaqMan low density arrays identified 63 miRNAs whose level of expression was significantly altered following SNL surgery. Of these, 59 were downregulated and the ipsilateral L4 DRG, not the injured L5 DRG, showed the most significant downregulation suggesting that miRNA changes in the uninjured afferents may underlie the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. TargetScan was used to predict mRNA targets for these miRNAs and it was found that the transcripts with multiple predicted target sites belong to neurologically important pathways. By employing different bioinformatic approaches we identified neurite remodeling as a significantly regulated biological pathway, and some of these predictions were confirmed by siRNA knockdown for genes that regulate neurite growth in differentiated Neuro2A cells. In vitro validation for predicted target sites in the 3'-UTR of voltage-gated sodium channel Scn11a, alpha 2/delta1 subunit of voltage-dependent Ca-channel, and purinergic receptor P2rx ligand-gated ion channel 4 using luciferase reporter assays showed that identified miRNAs modulated gene expression significantly. Our results suggest the potential for miRNAs to play a direct role in neuropathic pain.

Genetic and functional analysis of human P2X5 reveals a distinct pattern of exon 10 polymorphism with predominant expression of the nonfunctional receptor isoform.

P2X5 is a member of the P2X family of ATP-gated nonselective cation channels, which exist as trimeric assemblies. P2X5 is believed to trimerize with another member of this family, P2X1. We investigated the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the 3' splice site of exon 10 of the human P2X5 gene. As reported previously, presence of a T at the SNP location results in inclusion of exon 10 in the mature transcript, whereas exon 10 is excluded when a G is present at this location. Our genotyping of human DNA samples reveals predominance of the G-bearing allele, which was exclusively present in DNA samples from white American, Middle Eastern, and Chinese donors. Samples from African American donors were polymorphic, with the G allele more frequent. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of lymphocytes demonstrated a 100% positive correlation between genotype and P2X5 transcript. Immunostaining of P2X1/P2X5 stably coexpressing cell lines showed full-length P2X5 to be expressed at the cell surface and the exon 10-deleted isoform to be cytoplasmic. Fluorometric imaging-based pharmacological characterization indicated a ligand-dependent increase in intracellular calcium in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells transiently expressing full-length P2X5 but not the exon 10-deleted isoform. Likewise, electrophysiological analysis showed robust ATP-evoked currents when full-length but not the exon 10-deleted isoform of P2X5 was expressed. Taken together, our findings indicate that most humans express only a nonfunctional isoform of P2X5, which is in stark contrast to what is seen in other vertebrate species in which P2X5 has been studied, from which only the full-length isoform is known.

Proapoptotic effects of NARC 1 (= PCSK9), the gene encoding a novel serine proteinase.

BACKGROUND: NARC 1/PCSK9 encodes a novel serine proteinase known to play a role in cholesterol homeostasis. NARC 1 mRNA expression in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) was discovered to be induced following an apoptotic injury. Coregulation of known apoptotic mediators (caspase-3 and death receptor 6) raises the possibility that NARC 1 might be involved in the propagation of apoptotic signaling in neurons. METHODS: CGNs were transfected with EGFP-fusion constructs of wild-type and mutant NARC 1, and a laser scanning cytometry-based method of scoring cell death in transfectants was applied. Use of the poly-caspase inhibitor BAF allowed assessment of the caspase-dependence of the NARC 1 proapoptotic effect. RESULTS: Wild-type NARC 1 was found to have substantial proapoptotic effects that were only partially reversible by BAF. Mutation of the active site serine or deletion of the catalytic domain resulted in a reduced level of cell death, consistent with loss of the BAF-sensitive component of cell death. NH(2)-terminal deletion constructs of NARC 1 had effects similar to wild-type, both in the absence and presence of BAF, whereas expression of COOH-terminal deletion mutants produced a rate of cell death similar to wild-type in the absence of BAF treatment, but which lacked the capacity to be reduced by treatment with BAF. CONCLUSION: The mechanism by which NARC 1-EGFP over-expression induces cell death in cultured CGNs remains unclear. Mutation analysis established a positive correlation between the presence of the Narc 1 active site serine in the transiently expressed protein and induction of the BAF-sensitive component of the cell death phenotype. A caspase-independent component proved sufficiently complex to map discretely within the Narc 1 protein.

Laser scanning cytometry in the characterization of the proapoptotic effects of transiently transfected genes in cerebellar granule neurons.

BACKGROUND: Low transient transfection efficiency limits the ability to characterize putative proapoptotic gene function in neurons. Laser scanning cytometry (LSC), with its high capacity, medium throughput means of collecting fluorescent emissions from cultured cells, offers an effective technology for scoring cell death in neuronal transfectants. METHODS: Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) were transfected with EGFP-fusion constructs of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 using a DNA-calcium phosphate coprecipitation method. CGNs were fixed, permeablized, and stained with propidium iodide (PI) nuclear dye. An LSC method, based on a combination of Long Red Max Pixel, Long Red Integral, and Green Integral fluorescence parameters was validated for the scoring of apoptotic cell death in CGNs. RESULTS: In Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 transfected CGNs, cell death was scored both in transfectants and nontransfected culture-mates. The cell death phenotype was found to be independent of transfection efficiency. LSC scoring of Caspase-9 transfectants was compared with visual scoring following Hoechst 33342 staining, yielding results that were similar qualitatively, but not quantitatively, likely owing to the greater sensitivity to green fluorescence of laser scanning compared to human vision. CONCLUSION: LSC scoring of transiently transfected CGNs offers a rapid and reliable means of characterizing proapoptotic gene effects.