TRPC3 Is Dispensable for β-Alanine Triggered Acute Itch

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 24;7(1):13869. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12770-0.

Abstract

The detection of pruritic (itchy) stimuli is mediated by a variety of receptors and channels expressed by primary sensory neurons. The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) MRGPRD is selectively expressed by a subset of mouse non-peptidergic nociceptors and functions as the molecular receptor for the itch-inducing chemical β-alanine. However, the channels responsible for generating electrical signals downstream of MRGPRD remain unclear. Here, we found that a member of the canonical TRP channel family, TRPC3, is highly expressed in MRGPRD+ non-peptidergic nociceptors, raising the possibility of whether TRPC3 functions as a downstream channel in the MRGPRD signaling pathway. We tested TrpC3 null mice for β-alanine induced itch, and found that these mice exhibit normal responses to β-alanine. At the cellular level, calcium influx triggered by β-alanine is also unchanged in cultured DRG neurons from TrpC3 null mice compared to wild type. Together, our results demonstrate that mouse TrpC3 is dispensable for β-alanine-induced acute itch.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ganglia, Spinal / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Pruritus / chemically induced*
  • Pruritus / metabolism*
  • Pruritus / pathology
  • TRPC Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • beta-Alanine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • TRPC Cation Channels
  • TRPC3 cation channel
  • beta-Alanine