Neuronal cell lines as model dorsal root ganglion neurons

Abstract

BackgroundDorsal root ganglion neuron-derived immortal cell lines including ND7/23 and F-11 cells have been used extensively as in vitro model systems of native peripheral sensory neurons. However, while it is clear that some sensory neuron-specific receptors and ion channels are present in these cell lines, a systematic comparison of the molecular targets expressed by these cell lines with those expressed in intact peripheral neurons is lacking.ResultsIn this study, we examined the expression of RNA transcripts in the human neuroblastoma-derived cell line, SH-SY5Y, and two dorsal root ganglion hybridoma cell lines, F-11 and ND7/23, using Illumina next-generation sequencing, and compared the results with native whole murine dorsal root ganglions. The gene expression profiles of these three cell lines did not resemble any specific defined dorsal root ganglion subclass. The cell lines lacked many markers for nociceptive sensory neurons, such as the Transient receptor potential V1 gene, but expressed markers for both myelinated and unmyelinated neurons. Global gene ontology analysis on whole dorsal root ganglions and cell lines showed similar enrichment of biological process terms across all samples.ConclusionsThis paper provides insights into the receptor repertoire expressed in common dorsal root ganglion neuron-derived cell lines compared with whole murine dorsal root ganglions, and illustrates the limits and potentials of these cell lines as tools for neuropharmacological exploration.

Regulation of T-type Ca2+ channel expression by herpes simplex virus-1 infection in sensory-like ND7 cells

“…On the contrary, ND7-23 cells are derived from a fusion clone of rat DRG cells with a mouse neuroblastoma cell line, generating a more homogenous population of sensory-like neurons (Wood et al, 1990). A transcriptome analysis of these neuronal populations indicates expression of common molecular markers such as RET (a marker for myelinated and unmyelinated neurons), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), and transient receptor potential channel subunits (TRP) (Yin et al, 2016). However, there are noticeable differences in the expression of several ion channels and signalling molecules (Yin et al, 2016).…”

“…A transcriptome analysis of these neuronal populations indicates expression of common molecular markers such as RET (a marker for myelinated and unmyelinated neurons), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), and transient receptor potential channel subunits (TRP) (Yin et al, 2016). However, there are noticeable differences in the expression of several ion channels and signalling molecules (Yin et al, 2016). Although HSV infection altered the functional expression of T-type Ca 2+ channels in differentiated ND7-23 cells but not DRG neurons, it remains to be determined whether this regulatory mechanism interferes with channel expression in other major targets of HSV-1 infection such as trigeminal neurons.…”

Putative interaction site for membrane phospholipids controls activation of TRPA1 channel at physiological membrane potentials

“…This study suggested that basal intracellular Ca 2+ concentration is sufficient to cause preassociation of calmodulin with TRPA1, but the channels are far from saturated by endogenous calmodulin. We and others have previously shown that this cell line is a suitable model which maintains broad functional similarities with dorsal root ganglia neurons [30,31], including phospholipase C pathway and PIP 2 signaling [32,33]. We reasoned that if PIP 2 binds at the same site under native conditions, then chelating background Ca 2+ should release the prebound Ca 2+ /calmodulin complex from the channel and enable it to interact with PIP 2 .…”

One-cell model for inhibiting Cav3.3 mRNA expression by RNA interference

“…Previous studies have shown that T-type calcium channel was closely related to the chronic neuropathic pain and spinal cord neurotoxicity induced by local anaesthetics. Meanwhile, DRG neurons, as the primary afferent neurons, play an important role in the chronic neuropathic pain and local anaesthetics spinal cord neurotoxicity [17][18][19]. The expression of Cav3.3 calcium channel in DRG neurons was abundant, which indicated that Cav3.3 may play an important role in DRG neurons.…”