@phdthesis{Hu2021,
  author    = {Hu, Xiawei},
  title     = {Role of claudin-12 in neuronal barriers in painful murine and human neuropathy},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20806},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-208065},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {In peripheral nervous system (PNS), the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) and myelin barrier (MB) are important physiological fences for maintaining the environment for axons, Schwann cells and other associated cells within peripheral nerves. The perineurium surrounding the nerves and endoneurial vessels nourishing the nerves compose the BNB. Schwann cells wrapping around neurons form the MB. Destruction or malfunction of the barriers has been postulated as an initial step in the development of pathologic conditions concerning human peripheral nerves, such as traumatic neuropathy and the disease of chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP). Tight junction proteins (TJPs) are intercellular junctions building the microstructure of barriers. They play a key role in tightly connecting adjacent cells, controlling the passage of ions, water and other molecules via the paracellular pathway, and maintaining the cell polarity. Among the family of TJPs, claudins are the major structural components which form the backbone of TJs. Certain key TJPs [e.g. claudins (claudin-1, -5, -19, occludin, zona occludens (ZO-1)] have been identified in neural barriers and explored for therapeutic targets. The expression of Cldn12 gene has been documented in human/rodent tibial nerves, spinal cord and DRG. However, the role of claudin-12 in PNS is unknown. In the present study, we firstly found a loss of claudin-12 immunoreactivity (IR) in male or postmenopausal female patients with painful CIDP or non-inflammatory polyneuropathy (PNP). Then, we utilized male and female Cldn12-KO mice and the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Cldn12 mRNA and IR were reduced in WT mice after nerve injury. Deletion of Cldn12 via general knockout (KO) induced mechanical allodynia at baseline level and after CCI in time-dependent manner in male mice. KO of Cldn12 in males resulted in loss of small axons, perineurial barrier and MB breakdown, as well as TJP complex disruption with claudin-1, -19 and Pmp22 reduction. Moreover, local Cldn12 siRNA application mimicked mechanical allodynia and MB breakdown. In conclusion, claudin-12 deficiency is associated with painful CIDP/non-inflammatory PNP. Claudin-12 is a regulatory TJP crucial for mechanical nociception, perineurial barrier and MB integrity, and proper TJP composition in mice. Therefore, further investigating the functions of claudin-12 and its mechanism is important to prompt the development of new therapeutic approaches for painful neuropathies.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Dannhaeuser2021,
  author    = {Dannh{\"a}user, Sven},
  title     = {Function of the Drosophila adhesion-GPCR Latrophilin/CIRL in nociception and neuropathy},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20158},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201580},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Touch sensation is the ability to perceive mechanical cues which is required for essential behaviors. These encompass the avoidance of tissue damage, environmental perception, and social interaction but also proprioception and hearing. Therefore research on receptors that convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals in sensory neurons remains a topical research focus. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for mechano-metabotropic signal transduction are largely unknown, despite the vital role of mechanosensation in all corners of physiology. Being a large family with over 30 mammalian members, adhesion-type G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) operate in a vast range of physiological processes. Correspondingly, diverse human diseases, such as developmental disorders, defects of the nervous system, allergies and cancer are associated with these receptor family. Several aGPCRs have recently been linked to mechanosensitive functions suggesting, that processing of mechanical stimuli may be a common feature of this receptor family - not only in classical mechanosensory structures. This project employed Drosophila melanogaster as the candidate to analyze the aGPCR Latrophilin/dCIRL function in mechanical nociception in vivo. To this end, we focused on larval sensory neurons and investigated molecular mechanisms of dCIRL activity using noxious mechanical stimuli in combination with optogenetic tools to manipulate second messenger pathways. In addition, we made use of a neuropathy model to test for an involvement of aGPCR signaling in the malfunctioning peripheral nervous system. To do so, this study investigated and characterized nocifensive behavior in dCirl null mutants (dCirlKO) and employed genetically targeted RNA-interference (RNAi) to cell-specifically manipulate nociceptive function. The results revealed that dCirl is transcribed in type II class IV peripheral sensory neurons - a cell type that is structurally similar to mammalian nociceptors and detects different nociceptive sensory modalities. Furthermore, dCirlKO larvae showed increased nocifensive behavior which can be rescued in cell specific reexpression experiments. Expression of bPAC (bacterial photoactivatable adenylate cyclase) in these nociceptive neurons enabled us to investigate an intracellular signaling cascade of dCIRL function provoked by light-induced elevation of cAMP. Here, the findings demonstrated that dCIRL operates as a down-regulator of nocifensive behavior by modulating nociceptive neurons. Given the clinical relevance of this results, dCirl function was tested in a chemically induced neuropathy model where it was shown that cell specific overexpression of dCirl rescued nocifensive behavior but not nociceptor morphology.},
  subject      = {Drosophila},
  language  = {en}
}