title: RNA-Seq Analysis of Human Trigeminal and Dorsal Root Ganglia with a Focus on Chemoreceptors.
abstract: The chemosensory capacity of the somatosensory system relies on the appropriate expression of chemoreceptors, which detect chemical stimuli and transduce sensory information into cellular signals. Knowledge of the complete repertoire of the chemoreceptors expressed in human sensory ganglia is lacking. This study employed the next-generation sequencing technique (RNA-Seq) to conduct the first expression analysis of human trigeminal ganglia (TG) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We analyzed the data with a focus on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels, which are (potentially) involved in chemosensation by somatosensory neurons in the human TG and DRG. For years, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been considered the main group of receptors for chemosensation in the trigeminal system. Interestingly, we could show that sensory ganglia also express a panel of different olfactory receptors (ORs) with putative chemosensory function. To characterize OR expression in more detail, we performed microarray, semi-quantitative RT-PCR experiments, and immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, we analyzed the expression data to identify further known or putative classes of chemoreceptors in the human TG and DRG. Our results give an overview of the major classes of chemoreceptors expressed in the human TG and DRG and provide the basis for a broader understanding of the reception of chemical cues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schöbel
authors.affiliation: Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Köln, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altmüller
authors.affiliation: Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Köln, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannapfel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Hanns
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gisselmann
mesh_terms: D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D012313:RNA