Human odontoblasts express transient receptor protein and acid-sensing ion channel mechanosensor proteins.
Diverse proteins of the denegerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENa(+) C) superfamily, in particular those belonging to the acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) family, as well as some members of the transient receptor protein (TRP) channel, function as mechanosensors or may be required for mechanosensation in a diverse range of species and cell types. Therefore, we investigated the putative mechanosensitive function of human odontoblasts using immunohistochemistry to detect ENa(+) C subunits (α, β, and γ) and ASIC (1, 2, 3, and 4) proteins, as well as TRPV4, in these cells. Positive and specific immunoreactivity in the odontoblast soma and/or processes was detected for all proteins studied except α-ENa(+) C. The intensity of immunostaining was high for β-ENa(+) C and ASIC2, whereas it was low for ASIC1, ASIC3, γ-ENa(+) C, and TRPV4, being absent for α-ENa(+) C and ASIC4. These results suggest that human odontoblasts in situ express proteins related to mechanosensitive channels that probably participate in the mechanisms involved in teeth sensory transmission.
Solé-Magdalena
Antonio
A
ADITAS, Oviedo, Spain.
Revuelta
Enrique G
EG
Menénez-Díaz
Ivan
I
Calavia
Marta G
MG
Cobo
Teresa
T
García-Suárez
Olivia
O
Pérez-Piñera
Pablo
P
De Carlos
Felix
F
Cobo
Juan
J
Vega
Jose A
JA
D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C568266:ASIC1 protein, human; C568270:ASIC4 protein, human; D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C416986:TRPV4 protein, human