1. Neuroscience

Antinociceptive modulation by the adhesion GPCR CIRL promotes mechanosensory signal discrimination

  1. Sven Dannhäuser
  2. Thomas J Lux
  3. Chun Hu
  4. Mareike Selcho
  5. Jeremy T-C Chen
  6. Nadine Ehmann
  7. Divya Sachidanandan
  8. Sarah Stopp
  9. Dennis Pauls
  10. Matthias Pawlak
  11. Tobias Langenhan
  12. Peter Soba
  13. Heike L Rittner  Is a corresponding author
  14. Robert J Kittel  Is a corresponding author
  1. Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Germany
  2. Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Germany
  3. Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
  4. Neuronal Patterning and Connectivity, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
  5. Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, Germany
  6. Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Germany
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.56738
Share this article
Cite this article
  1. Sven Dannhäuser
  2. Thomas J Lux
  3. Chun Hu
  4. Mareike Selcho
  5. Jeremy T-C Chen
  6. Nadine Ehmann
  7. Divya Sachidanandan
  8. Sarah Stopp
  9. Dennis Pauls
  10. Matthias Pawlak
  11. Tobias Langenhan
  12. Peter Soba
  13. Heike L Rittner
  14. Robert J Kittel
(2020)
Antinociceptive modulation by the adhesion GPCR CIRL promotes mechanosensory signal discrimination
eLife 9:e56738.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.56738
  2. Download BibTeX
  3. Download .RIS
7 figures, 1 video, 3 tables and 1 additional file

Figures

Figure 1
Download asset Open asset
Drosophila Cirl is expressed in proprioceptors and nociceptors.

(A) The Cirl promoter drives Tomato photoprotein expression (magenta; dCirlpGAL4 >UAS-CD4::tdTomato) in type one larval pentascolopidial ChO (lch5) neurons and type 2 C4da nociceptors, identified by a GFP-ppk promoter fusion (green; ppk-CD4::tdGFP). Magnified view of (B) C4da and (C) ChO neurons. Shown are immunohistochemical stainings against the fluorescent proteins. Scale bars (A) 20 µm, (B,C) 10 µm.

Figure 2
Download asset Open asset
Cirl reduces nocifensive behaviour.

(A) Characteristic nocifensive ‘corkscrew’ roll of larvae upon mechanical stimulation with a von Frey filament (40 mN force). (B) Quantification of nocifensive behaviour in different genotypes. Increased nocifensive responses were observed in dCirlKO and upon nociceptor-specific expression of an RNAi construct (ppk-GAL4 >UAS-dCirlRNAi). Cirl re-expression rescued the null mutant (dCirlKO ppk-GAL4 >UAS-dCirl) and Cirl overexpression (ppk-GAL4 >UAS-dCirl) reduced nocifensive responses. Raising animals at a higher temperature (29°C vs. 25°C) increases UAS/GAL4-dependent transgene expression (Duffy, 2002). Data are presented as mean and individual values (lower bar plot) and as the difference between means with 95% confidence intervals (upper dot plot). Asterisks denote level of significance, *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001.

Figure 3
Download asset Open asset
Potentiation of nociceptor function by cAMP.

(A) Schematic illustration of cAMP production by bPAC. (B) Optogenetic assay. Stimulated and spontaneous nocifensive responses can be promoted and elicited, respectively, by bPAC activation in C4da neurons (blue labels, photostimulation). Larval behaviour was observed during 3 min illumination (~200 µW/mm2 at 475 nm) followed by mechanical stimulation (40 mN von Frey filament). (C) Nocifensive behaviour of PDE mutants with ~73% (dunce1) and ~35% (dunceML) residual cAMP hydrolysis rates (Davis and Kiger, 1981). (D) The adenylyl cyclase inhibitors SQ22536 and DDA (500 µM) reduce nocifensive responses to comparable levels in control and dCirlKO larvae. Data are presented as mean and individual values. Asterisks denote level of significance, ***p≤0.001.

Figure 4 with 2 supplements
Download asset Open asset
Cirl decreases the excitability of nociceptors.

(A) Calcium imaging of C4da axon terminals expressing GCaMP6m (ppk-GAL4 >UAS-GCaMP6m) in semi-intact larval preparations. Representative baseline (F0) and maximum calcium responses (Fmax) are shown for control and CirlRNAi animals upon von Frey filament stimulation (45 mN). Scale bar, 10 μm. (B) Average calcium traces (arrow indicates stimulation) and quantification of the signals (ΔFmax/F0). CirlRNAi significantly elevates mechano-nociceptive responses of C4da neurons. (C) Nocifensive responses (red) elicited via ChR2XXM-mediated photostimulation of C4da neurons in control (ppk-GAL4 >UAS-chop2XXM) and dCirlKO larvae (dCirlKO ppk-GAL4 >UAS-chop2XXM). (D) Structure of the GPS region in Drosophila CIRL (Scholz et al., 2017). The Stachel sequence (light blue) is part of the GAIN domain (blue) contained in the CTF. Conserved, mutated amino acids required for receptor autoproteolysis at the GPS are shown in red (−2: dCirlH>A, +1: dCirlT>A). (E) Quantification of nocifensive behaviour in dCirlT>A and dCirlH>A receptor mutants. Data are presented as mean and individual values. Asterisks denote level of significance, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001. See also Figure 4—figure supplements 1 and 2.

Figure 4—figure supplement 1
Download asset Open asset
Larval preparation for calcium imaging.
Figure 4—figure supplement 2
Download asset Open asset
CIRL protein expression in mechanical nociceptors.

(A,B) The genomic transgene dCirlN-RFP (Scholz et al., 2017) reports low protein expression levels in C4da neurons (arrows). (B) Shown are confocal images of immunohistochemical stainings against RFP (A, black; B, magenta) and the membrane marker anti-HRP (horseradish peroxidase; B, green). Scale bar 25 µm.

Figure 5
Download asset Open asset
Sensitization of nociceptors through chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

(A) Increased nocifensive behaviour following paclitaxel treatment (10 µM) is counteracted by overexpressing Cirl in nociceptors. (B) Example images of C4da neuron morphology upon paclitaxel administration and Cirl overexpression. Scale bars, 100 µm. (C, D) Morphometric quantification of dendritic complexity of C4da neurons in the different genotypes. Data are presented as mean and individual values. Asterisks denote level of significance, *p≤0.05, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001.

Figure 6
Download asset Open asset
Neuropathy-induced mechanical allodynia correlates with decreased Cirl1 expression in mammalian non-peptidergic nociceptors.

(A) Traumatic injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI, green) in Wistar rats results in mechanical allodynia after one week as measured by von Frey Hairs (paw withdrawal threshold) in comparison to the contralateral side (grey). (B, C) Quantification of Cirl1 (B) and Cirl3 (C) mRNA levels in subpopulations of rat DRG neurons via in situ hybridization (RNAscope). Shown are control conditions (naïve DRGs, grey) and one week after injury (green) following the emergence of allodynia. Data are presented as mean and individual values. Asterisks denote level of significance, **p≤0.01, ***p≤0.001. (D, E) Example images of the RNAscope assay in DRG neurons. Shown are projections of confocal stacks stained against IB4 and labelled with probes against Cirl1 and Cirl3 under control conditions (D) and CCI (E). Scale bar 20 µm.

Figure 7
Download asset Open asset
cAMP downregulation by Drosophila CIRL adjusts mechanosensory submodalities in opposite directions.

Scheme summarizing how processing of different levels of mechanical force is bidirectionally modulated by CIRL’s downregulation of cAMP production. Whereas low threshold mechanosensory neurons (ChOs; gentle touch) are less responsive in Cirl mutants, high threshold mechanical nociceptors (C4da neurons; harsh touch) become sensitized.

Videos

Video 1
Download asset
Nocifensive behaviour - the 'corkscrew' body roll.

Tables

Table 1
Behaviour and imaging.
FigureGenotypeMeanSEMNP-valueTest
Figure 2Bcontrol53.341.4587p<0.0001unpaired t-test
dCirlKO75.372.67610
RNAi control54.233.2798p=0.0169one-way ANOVA, Tukey correction
ppk > dCirlRNAi68.082.05210
GAL4 control53.673.21114one-way ANOVA, Tukey correction
KO ppk > dCirl45.73.62710p=0.3345 (GAL4 control)
ppk > dCirl37.122.77810p=0.0023 (GAL4 control)
ppk > dCirl (29°C)28.673.12510p<0.0001 (GAL4 control)
Figure 3Ccontrol (Canton-S)443.71210p<0.0001Mann-Whitney
dunce1721.10610
control (f36a)50.51.16710p<0.0001unpaired t-test
dunceML79.580.96512
Figure 3Dcontrol (+vehicle)49.671.44510p<0.0001one-way ANOVA, Tukey correction
dCirlKO(+vehicle)65.671.72510
control (+SQ22536)38.331.51110p=0.9805p=0.0002 (control +vehicle)
dCirlKO(+SQ22536)401.40610p<0.0001 (dCirlKO +vehicle)
control (+DDA)35.672.33410p=0.6315p<0.0001 (control +vehicle)
dCirlKO(+DDA)39.331.38810p<0.0001 (dCirlKO +vehicle)
Figure 4Bcontrol1.580.279410p=0.0032unpaired t-test
ppk > dCirlRNAi2.940.286610
Figure 4Econtrol54.281.96110one-way ANOVA, Tukey correction
dCirlTT>A552.27410p=0.9660 (control)
dCirlHH>A73.781.84510p<0.0001 (control)
Figure 5AGAL4 control (+vehicle)53.963.83119p>0.9999 (ppk > dCirl +paclitaxel)Kruskal-Wallis test
GAL4 control (+paclitaxel)95.51.7410p=0.0002 (GAL4 control +vehicle)
ppk > dCirl (+vehicle)37.122.77810p>0.9999 (ppk > dCirl +paclitaxel)
ppk > dCirl (+paclitaxel)46.342.37410p<0.0001 (GAL4 control +Taxol)
dCirlKO (+vehicle)69.683.5420p<0.0001Mann-Whitney
dCirlKO (+paclitaxel)97.051.09710
Figure 5CGAL4 control (+vehicle)8.2560.198510p=0.0117 (GAL4 control +Taxol)Kruskal-Wallis test
GAL4 control (+paclitaxel)6.270.557410p=0.0017 (ppk > dCirl +paclitaxel)
ppk > dCirl (+vehicle)5.1080.160310p<0.0001 (GAL4 control +vehicle)
ppk > dCirl (+paclitaxel)3.8610.596110p=0.1848 (ppk > dCirl +vehicle)
GAL4 control (+vehicle)22.170.701510p=0.0014 (GAL4 control +paclitaxel)one-way ANOVA, Tukey correction
GAL4 control (+paclitaxel)15.421.17410p>0.9999 (ppk > dCirl +paclitaxel)
ppk > dCirl (+vehicle)17.260.609110p=0.0296 (GAL4 control +vehicle)
ppk > dCirl (+paclitaxel)11.221.71610p=0.2557 (ppk > dCirl +vehicle)
Figure 5Dcontrol4.9710.17478p=0.0025unpaired t-test
dCirlKO4.2190.125510
control18.110.50298p=0.2829unpaired t-test
dCirlKO17.370.438410
Figure 6Acontrol day 06.9720.80566p=0.4062unpaired t-test
CCI day 08.0030.87556
control day 78.1520.66476p<0.0001
CCI day 70.8610.09826
Figure 6BIB4 (control)28.65.1486p=0.0018unpaired t-test
IB4 (CCI)6.7910.40346
CGRP (control)27.895.5296p=0.3358
CGRP (CCI)21.493.0786
NF200 (control)26.762.7376p=0.45
NF200 (CCI)33.578.2166
Figure 6CIB4 (control)10.162.0656p=0.1293unpaired t-test
IB4 (CCI)6.6620.45426
CGRP (control)11.52.1036p=0.0895
CGRP (CCI)7.2120.88516
NF200 (control)14.251.9656p=0.3939Mann-Whitney
NF200 (CCI)134.1336
Table 2
0: no response, 1: stimulated rolling, 2: spontaneous bending, 3: spontaneous rolling.
FigureGenotypeMean 0Mean 1Mean 2Mean 3N
Figure 3Bwild-type (dark)47.2952.710.000.00203
wild-type (light)48.0052.000.000.00200
ppk > bPAC (dark)31.2553.1315.630.0096
ppk > bPAC (light)5.1356.4128.2110.2639
KO ppk > bPAC (dark)0.0070.0026.673.3330
KO ppk > bPAC (light)0.0058.0612.9029.0331
Table 3
0: no photoinduced response, 1: photoinduced response.
FigureGenotypeMean 0Mean 1N
Figure 4Cwild-type (10−3 mW/mm2)100020
wild-type (10−2 mW/mm2)100020
wild-type (10−1 mW/mm2)100020
ppk > chop2XXM (10−3 mW/mm2)95520
ppk > chop2XXM (10−2 mW/mm2)257520
ppk > chop2XXM (10−1 mW/mm2)36.3663.6322
dCirlKOppk > chop2XXM (10−3 mW/mm2)57.1442.8621
dCirlKOppk > chop2XXM (10−2 mW/mm2)9.5290.4821
dCirlKOppk > chop2XXM (10−1 mW/mm2)010020

Additional files

Transparent reporting form
https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/56738/elife-56738-transrepform-v2.pdf

Download links

A two-part list of links to download the article, or parts of the article, in various formats.

Downloads (link to download the article as PDF)

Open citations (links to open the citations from this article in various online reference manager services)

Cite this article (links to download the citations from this article in formats compatible with various reference manager tools)

  1. Sven Dannhäuser
  2. Thomas J Lux
  3. Chun Hu
  4. Mareike Selcho
  5. Jeremy T-C Chen
  6. Nadine Ehmann
  7. Divya Sachidanandan
  8. Sarah Stopp
  9. Dennis Pauls
  10. Matthias Pawlak
  11. Tobias Langenhan
  12. Peter Soba
  13. Heike L Rittner
  14. Robert J Kittel
(2020)
Antinociceptive modulation by the adhesion GPCR CIRL promotes mechanosensory signal discrimination
eLife 9:e56738.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.56738