Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons

Heat sensation is mediated by specialized heat-sensitive neurons in the somatosensory system that innervates the skin. Previous studies revealed that noxious heat sensation is controlled by the sodium (Na+)-activated potassium (K+) channel Slick (Kcnt2), which is highly expressed in nociceptive Aδ-f...

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Main Authors: Patrick Engel, Fangyuan Zhou, Bang Tam Thi Tran, Achim Schmidtko, Ruirui Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1459735/full
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author Patrick Engel
Fangyuan Zhou
Bang Tam Thi Tran
Achim Schmidtko
Ruirui Lu
author_facet Patrick Engel
Fangyuan Zhou
Bang Tam Thi Tran
Achim Schmidtko
Ruirui Lu
author_sort Patrick Engel
collection DOAJ
description Heat sensation is mediated by specialized heat-sensitive neurons in the somatosensory system that innervates the skin. Previous studies revealed that noxious heat sensation is controlled by the sodium (Na+)-activated potassium (K+) channel Slick (Kcnt2), which is highly expressed in nociceptive Aδ-fibers. However, the mechanism by which Slick modulates heat sensation is poorly understood. Here, we generated mice lacking Slick conditionally in sensory neurons expressing Nav1.8 (SNS-Slick−/− mice). In SNS-Slick−/− mice, the latency to express any nocifensive behavior was reduced in the hot plate and tail immersion tests. In situ hybridization experiments revealed Slick was highly co-expressed with the essential heat sensor, transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin (TRPM) 3, but not with TRP vanilloid 1, TRP ankyrin 1, or TRPM2 in sensory neurons. Notably, SNS-Slick−/− mice exhibited increased nocifensive behaviors following intraplantar injection of the TRPM3 activator pregnenolone sulfate. Patch-clamp recordings detected increased Na+-dependent outward K+ current (IK) after TRPM3 activation in sensory neurons, which showed no prominent IK after the replacement of NaCl with choline chloride. Thus, our study suggests that Slick limits TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons, thereby inhibiting noxious heat sensing.
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spelling doaj-art-0df9bc99a20d4dc18e6d3158fe9aae3d2025-08-20T02:48:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-12-011510.3389/fphar.2024.14597351459735Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neuronsPatrick EngelFangyuan ZhouBang Tam Thi TranAchim SchmidtkoRuirui LuHeat sensation is mediated by specialized heat-sensitive neurons in the somatosensory system that innervates the skin. Previous studies revealed that noxious heat sensation is controlled by the sodium (Na+)-activated potassium (K+) channel Slick (Kcnt2), which is highly expressed in nociceptive Aδ-fibers. However, the mechanism by which Slick modulates heat sensation is poorly understood. Here, we generated mice lacking Slick conditionally in sensory neurons expressing Nav1.8 (SNS-Slick−/− mice). In SNS-Slick−/− mice, the latency to express any nocifensive behavior was reduced in the hot plate and tail immersion tests. In situ hybridization experiments revealed Slick was highly co-expressed with the essential heat sensor, transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin (TRPM) 3, but not with TRP vanilloid 1, TRP ankyrin 1, or TRPM2 in sensory neurons. Notably, SNS-Slick−/− mice exhibited increased nocifensive behaviors following intraplantar injection of the TRPM3 activator pregnenolone sulfate. Patch-clamp recordings detected increased Na+-dependent outward K+ current (IK) after TRPM3 activation in sensory neurons, which showed no prominent IK after the replacement of NaCl with choline chloride. Thus, our study suggests that Slick limits TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons, thereby inhibiting noxious heat sensing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1459735/fullheat nociceptionTRPM3Slicksensory neuronspotassium current
spellingShingle Patrick Engel
Fangyuan Zhou
Bang Tam Thi Tran
Achim Schmidtko
Ruirui Lu
Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
Frontiers in Pharmacology
heat nociception
TRPM3
Slick
sensory neurons
potassium current
title Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
title_full Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
title_fullStr Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
title_full_unstemmed Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
title_short Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
title_sort slick potassium channels limit trpm3 mediated activation of sensory neurons
topic heat nociception
TRPM3
Slick
sensory neurons
potassium current
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1459735/full
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AT bangtamthitran slickpotassiumchannelslimittrpm3mediatedactivationofsensoryneurons
AT achimschmidtko slickpotassiumchannelslimittrpm3mediatedactivationofsensoryneurons
AT ruiruilu slickpotassiumchannelslimittrpm3mediatedactivationofsensoryneurons