Dr. Chen, Chih-Cheng 's publons link picture

Dr. Chen, Chih-Cheng

Deputy Director
Distinguished Research Fellow
  • 02-2652-3917
  • 02-2782-9224 (Fax)

Specialty:
  • Pain
  • Neurosensory Mechanotransduction

Education and Positions:
  • Ph.D. University College London, UK


Highlight Detail
...

Evidence for the involvement of ASIC3 in sensory mechanotransduction in proprioceptors

Dr. Chen, Chih-Cheng
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, May 10, 2016

Acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) is involved in acid nociception, but its possible role in neurosensory mechanotransduction is disputed. We report here the generation of Asic3-knockout/eGFPf-knockin mice and subsequent characterization of heterogeneous expression of ASIC3 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). ASIC3 is expressed in parvalbumin (Pv+) proprioceptor axons innervating muscle spindles. We further generate a floxed allele of Asic3 (Asic3f/f) and probe the role of ASIC3 in mechanotransduction in neurite-bearing Pv+ DRG neurons through localized elastic matrix movements and electrophysiology. Targeted knockout of Asic3 disrupts spindle afferent sensitivity to dynamic stimuli and impairs mechanotransduction in Pv+ DRG neurons because of substrate deformation-induced neurite stretching, but not to direct neurite indentation. In behavioural tasks, global knockout (Asic3−/−) and Pv-Cre::Asic3f/f mice produce similar deficits in grid and balance beam walking tasks. We conclude that, at least in mouse, ASIC3 is a molecular determinant contributing to dynamic mechanosensitivity in proprioceptors.