title: Human odontoblasts express transient receptor protein and acid-sensing ion channel mechanosensor proteins.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: ADITAS, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solé-Magdalena
authors.forename: Enrique G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Revuelta
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menénez-Díaz
authors.forename: Marta G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Calavia
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: García-Suárez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pérez-Piñera
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Carlos
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vega
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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