title: Identification of genes differentially expressed by nerve growth factor- and neurotrophin-3-dependent sensory neurons.
abstract: The neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) support the survival of subpopulations of primary sensory neurons with defined and distinct physiological characteristics. Only a few genes have been identified as being differentially expressed in these subpopulations, and not much is known about the nature of the molecules involved in the processing of sensory information in NGF-dependent nociceptive neurons or NT3-dependent proprioceptive neurons. We devised a simple dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explant culture system, allowing the selection of neuronal populations preferentially responsive to NGF or NT3. The reliability of this assay was first monitored by the differential expression of the NGF and NT3 receptors trkA and trkC, as well as that of neuropeptides and calcium-binding proteins. We then identified four differentially expressed sodium channels, two enriched in the NGF population and two others in the NT3 population. Finally, using an optimized RNA fingerprinting protocol, we identified 20 additional genes, all differentially expressed in DRG explants cultured with NGF or NT3. This approach thus allows the identification of large number of genes expressed in subpopulations of primary sensory neurons and opens the possibility of studying the molecular mechanisms of nociception and proprioception.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Neurobiochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Am Klopferspitz 18a, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Friedel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schnürch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stubbusch
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Barde
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D015222:Sodium Channels; D012313:RNA