title: Kv7.2 regulates the function of peripheral sensory neurons.
abstract: The Kv7 (KCNQ) family of voltage-gated K(+) channels regulates cellular excitability. The functional role of Kv7.2 has been hampered by the lack of a viable Kcnq2-null animal model. In this study, we generated homozygous Kcnq2-null sensory neurons using the Cre-Lox system; in these mice, Kv7.2 expression is absent in the peripheral sensory neurons, whereas the expression of other molecular components of nodes (including Kv7.3), paranodes, and juxtaparanodes is not altered. The conditional Kcnq2-null animals exhibit normal motor performance but have increased thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Whole-cell patch recording technique demonstrates that Kcnq2-null sensory neurons have increased excitability and reduced spike frequency adaptation. Taken together, our results suggest that the loss of Kv7.2 activity increases the excitability of primary sensory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.
authors.forename: Chih H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lancaster
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Elior
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peles
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Scherer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000235:genetics; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C491322:Cntnap1 protein, mouse; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel; C114401:Kcnq2 protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels; C068686:Pax3 protein, mouse; D019789:Tetraethylammonium
keywords: KCNQ; Kv7; M-current; dorsal root ganglion; nociceptors