Small-molecule inhibition of STOML3 oligomerization reverses pathological mechanical hypersensitivity

The skin is equipped with specialized mechanoreceptors that allow the perception of the slightest brush. Indeed, some mechanoreceptors can detect even nanometer-scale movements. Movement is transformed into electrical signals via the gating of mechanically activated ion channels at sensory endings i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wetzel, Christiane (Author) , Bali, Kiran Kumar (Author) , Kuner, Rohini (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 09 January 2017
In: Nature neuroscience
Year: 2017, Volume: 20, Issue: 2, Pages: 209-218
ISSN:1546-1726
DOI:10.1038/nn.4454
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.4454
Verlag, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.4454
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Author Notes:Christiane Wetzel, Simone Pifferi, Cristina Picci, Caglar Gök, Diana Hoffmann, Kiran K. Bali, André Lampe, Liudmila Lapatsina, Raluca Fleischer, Ewan St John Smith, Valérie Bégay, Mirko Moroni, Luc Estebanez, Johannes Kühnemund, Jan Walcher, Edgar Specker, Martin Neuenschwander, Jens Peter von Kries, Volker Haucke, Rohini Kuner, James F. A. Poulet, Jan Schmoranzer, Kate Poole, Gary R. Lewin
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Summary:The skin is equipped with specialized mechanoreceptors that allow the perception of the slightest brush. Indeed, some mechanoreceptors can detect even nanometer-scale movements. Movement is transformed into electrical signals via the gating of mechanically activated ion channels at sensory endings in the skin. The sensitivity of Piezo mechanically gated ion channels is controlled by stomatin-like protein-3 (STOML3), which is required for normal mechanoreceptor function. Here we identify small-molecule inhibitors of STOML3 oligomerization that reversibly reduce the sensitivity of mechanically gated currents in sensory neurons and silence mechanoreceptors in vivo. STOML3 inhibitors in the skin also reversibly attenuate fine touch perception in normal mice. Under pathophysiological conditions following nerve injury or diabetic neuropathy, the slightest touch can produce pain, and here STOML3 inhibitors can reverse mechanical hypersensitivity. Thus, small molecules applied locally to the skin can be used to modulate touch and may represent peripherally available drugs to treat tactile-driven pain following neuropathy.
Item Description:Gesehen am 16.04.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1546-1726
DOI:10.1038/nn.4454