TY - JOUR

T1 - In vitro and in vivo effects on neural crest stem cell differentiation by conditional activation of Runx1 short isoform and its effect on neuropathic pain behavior

AU - Kanaykina, Nadezda

AU - Abelson, Klas

AU - King, Dale

AU - Liakhovitskaia, Anna

AU - Schreiner, Silke

AU - Wegner, Michael

AU - Kozlova, Elena N

PY - 2010/2

Y1 - 2010/2

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Runx1, a Runt domain transcription factor, controls the differentiation of nociceptors that express the neurotrophin receptor Ret, regulates the expression of many ion channels and receptors, and controls the lamina-specific innervation pattern of nociceptive afferents in the spinal cord. Moreover, mice lacking Runx1 exhibit specific defects in thermal and neuropathic pain. We investigated whether conditional activation of Runx1 short isoform (Runx1a), which lacks a transcription activation domain, influences differentiation of neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) in vitro and in vivo during development and whether postnatal Runx1a activation affects the sensitivity to neuropathic pain.METHODS: We activated ectopic expression of Runx1a in cultured NCSCs using the Tet-ON gene regulatory system during the formation of neurospheres and analyzed the proportion of neurons and glial cells originating from NCSCs. In in vivo experiments we applied doxycycline (DOX) to pregnant mice (days 8-11), i.e. when NCSCs actively migrate, and examined the phenotype of offsprings. We also examined whether DOX-induced activation of Runx1a in adult mice affects their sensitivity to mechanical stimulation following a constriction injury of the sciatic nerve.RESULTS: Ectopic Runx1a expression in cultured NCSCs resulted in predominantly glial differentiation. Offsprings in which Runx1a had been activated showed retarded growth and displayed megacolon, pigment defects, and dystrophic dorsal root ganglia. In the neuropathic pain model, the threshold for mechanical sensitivity was markedly increased following activation of Runx1a.CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Runx1a has a specific role in NCSC development and that modulation of Runx1a activity may reduce mechanical hypersensitivity associated with neuropathic pain

AB - INTRODUCTION: Runx1, a Runt domain transcription factor, controls the differentiation of nociceptors that express the neurotrophin receptor Ret, regulates the expression of many ion channels and receptors, and controls the lamina-specific innervation pattern of nociceptive afferents in the spinal cord. Moreover, mice lacking Runx1 exhibit specific defects in thermal and neuropathic pain. We investigated whether conditional activation of Runx1 short isoform (Runx1a), which lacks a transcription activation domain, influences differentiation of neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) in vitro and in vivo during development and whether postnatal Runx1a activation affects the sensitivity to neuropathic pain.METHODS: We activated ectopic expression of Runx1a in cultured NCSCs using the Tet-ON gene regulatory system during the formation of neurospheres and analyzed the proportion of neurons and glial cells originating from NCSCs. In in vivo experiments we applied doxycycline (DOX) to pregnant mice (days 8-11), i.e. when NCSCs actively migrate, and examined the phenotype of offsprings. We also examined whether DOX-induced activation of Runx1a in adult mice affects their sensitivity to mechanical stimulation following a constriction injury of the sciatic nerve.RESULTS: Ectopic Runx1a expression in cultured NCSCs resulted in predominantly glial differentiation. Offsprings in which Runx1a had been activated showed retarded growth and displayed megacolon, pigment defects, and dystrophic dorsal root ganglia. In the neuropathic pain model, the threshold for mechanical sensitivity was markedly increased following activation of Runx1a.CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Runx1a has a specific role in NCSC development and that modulation of Runx1a activity may reduce mechanical hypersensitivity associated with neuropathic pain

U2 - 10.3109/03009730903572065

DO - 10.3109/03009730903572065

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20187849

VL - 115

SP - 56

EP - 64

JO - Upsala läkareförenings förhandlingar

JF - Upsala läkareförenings förhandlingar

SN - 0300-9726

IS - 1

ER -