scholarly journals Upper and lower limb motor axons demonstrate differential excitability and accommodation to strong hyperpolarizing currents during induced hyperthermia

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 2061-2070
Author(s):  
Oliver R. Marmoy ◽  
Paul L. Furlong ◽  
Christopher E. G. Moore

Length-dependent peripheral neuropathy typically involves the insidious onset of sensory loss in the lower limbs before later progressing proximally. Recent evidence proposes hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels as dysfunctional in rodent models of peripheral neuropathy, and therefore differential expression of HCN channels in the lower limbs was hypothesized as a pathophysiological mechanism accounting for the pattern of symptomatology within this study. We studied six healthy participants, using motor axon excitability including strong and long [−70% and −100% hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEh)] hyperpolarizing currents to preferably study HCN channel function from the median and tibial nerves from high (40%) and low (20%) threshold. This was recorded at normothermia (~32°C) and then repeated during hyperthermia (~40°C) as an artificial hyperpolarizing axon stress. Significant differences between recovery cycle, superexcitability, accommodation to small depolarizing currents, and alterations in late stages of the inward-rectifying currents of strongest (−70% and −100% TEh) currents were observed in the lower limbs during hyperthermia. We demonstrate differences in late IH current flow, which implies higher expression of HCN channel isoforms. The findings also indicate their potential inference in the symptomatology of length-dependent peripheral neuropathies and may be a unique target for minimizing symptomatology and pathogenesis in acquired disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates nerve excitability differences between the upper and lower limbs during hyperthermia, an experimentally induced axonal stress. The findings indicate that there is differential expression of slow hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel isoforms between the upper and lower limbs, which was demonstrated through strong, long hyperpolarizing currents during hyperthermia. Such mechanisms may underlie postural control but render the lower limbs susceptible to dysfunction in disease states.

2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengjun Wu ◽  
Weihua Gao ◽  
Changan Xie ◽  
Xinping Xu ◽  
Christina Vorvis ◽  
...  

Recently, applications of the patch-clamp fluorometry (PCF) technique in studies of cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) and hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide–regulated (HCN) channels have provided direct evidence for the long-held notion that ligands preferably bind to and stabilize these channels in an open state. This state-dependent ligand–channel interaction involves contributions from not only the ligand-binding domain but also other discrete structural elements within the channel protein. This insight led us to investigate whether the pore of the HCN channel plays a role in the ligand–whole channel interaction. We used three well-characterized HCN channel blockers to probe the ion-conducting passage. The PCF technique was used to simultaneously monitor channel activity and cAMP binding. Two ionic blockers, Cs+ and Mg2+, effectively block channel conductance but have no obvious effect on cAMP binding. Surprisingly, ZD7288, an open channel blocker specific for HCN channels, significantly reduces the activity-dependent increase in cAMP binding. Independent biochemical assays exclude any nonspecific interaction between ZD7288 and isolated cAMP-binding domain. Because ZD7228 interacts with the inner pore region, where the activation gate is presumably located, we did an alanine scanning of the intracellular end of S6, from T426 to A435. Mutations of three residues, T426, M430, and H434, which are located at regular intervals on the S6 α-helix, enhance cAMP binding. In contrast, mutations of two residues in close proximity, F431A and I432A, dampen the response. Our results demonstrate that movements of the structural elements near the activation gate directly affect ligand binding affinity, which is a simple mechanistic explanation that could be applied to the interpretation of ligand gating in general.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze-Jun Wang ◽  
Ismary Blanco ◽  
Sebastien Hayoz ◽  
Tinatin I. Brelidze

ABSTRACTHyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are major regulators of synaptic plasticity, and rhythmic activity in the heart and brain. Opening of HCN channels requires membrane hyperpolarization and is further facilitated by intracellular cyclic nucleotides (cNMPs). In HCN channels, membrane hyperpolarization is sensed by the membrane-spanning voltage sensor domain (VSD) and the cNMP-dependent gating is mediated by the intracellular cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) connected to the pore-forming S6 transmembrane domain via the C-linker. Previous functional analysis of HCN channels suggested a direct or allosteric coupling between the voltage- and cNMP-dependent activation mechanisms. However, the specifics of the coupling were unclear. The first cryo-EM structure of an HCN1 channel revealed that a novel structural element, dubbed HCN domain (HCND), forms a direct structural link between the VSD and C-linker/CNBD. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of the HCND. Deletion of the HCND prevented surface expression of HCN2 channels. Based on the HCN1 structure analysis, we identified R237 and G239 residues on the S2 of the VSD that form direct interactions with I135 on the HCND. Disrupting these interactions abolished HCN2 currents. We then identified three residues on the C-linker/CNBD (E478, Q382 and H559) that form direct interactions with residues R154 and S158 on the HCND. Disrupting these interactions affected both voltage- and cAMP-dependent gating of HCN2 channels. These findings indicate that the HCND is necessary for the surface expression of HCN channels, and provides a functional link between the voltage- and cAMP-dependent mechanisms of HCN channel gating.


Pharmacology ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Melis Yavuz ◽  
Banu Aydın ◽  
Nihan Çarçak ◽  
Filiz Onat

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel currents of <i>Ih</i> and absence epilepsy seizures are associated, but studies reveal differential results. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of the HCN channels on the expression of spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) using the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) model. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> HCN isoform levels from isolated brains of both naïve nonepileptic Wistar and GAERS groups were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ZD7288, an <i>Ih</i> inhibitor as well as an HCN channel antagonist, was administered intracerebroventricularly to the adult GAERS groups, and to evaluate their SWD activities, electroencephalography was recorded. The effect of ZD7288 on the cumulative total duration and number of SWDs and the mean duration of each SWD complex was evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The HCN2 levels in the cortex and hippocampus of the GAERS group were lower compared to the naïve nonepileptic Wistar group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). ZD7288 increased the number of SWDs at the 20th and 120th min with the highest administered dose of 7 μg (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The <i>Ih</i> inhibitor ZD7288 increased the number of SWDs in a genetic absence epilepsy rat model, although this increase may not be significant due to the inconsistent time-dependent effects. In GAERS, the cortical and hippocampal HCN2 channel levels were significantly lower compared to the control group. Further studies are needed with higher doses of ZD7288 to determine if the effects will increase drastically.


2015 ◽  
Vol 466 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo Li ◽  
Lige Tonggu ◽  
Lan Tang ◽  
Liguo Wang

The results suggest that N-glycosylation is not required for the opening of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, and some but not all of the four subunits of the HCN channel need to be glycosylated for trafficking to cell membrane.


Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (7) ◽  
pp. 3500-3511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Constantin ◽  
Susan Wray

Pulsatile release of GnRH-1 stimulates the anterior pituitary and induces secretion of gonadotropin hormones. GnRH-1 release is modulated by many neurotransmitters that act via G protein-coupled membrane receptors. cAMP is the most ubiquitous effector for these receptors. GnRH-1 neurons express hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channel protein in vivo. HCN channels are involved in neuronal pacemaking and can integrate cAMP signals. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is also activated by cAMP signals, and PKA-dependent phosphorylation modulates voltage-activated channels. In this report, these two pathways were examined in GnRH-1 neurons as integrators of forskolin (FSK)-induced stimulation. The HCN3 isoform was detected in GnRH-1 neurons obtained from mouse nasal explants. ZD7288, a HCN channel blocker, significantly reduced the efficiency of FSK to stimulate GnRH-1 neurons, whereas blockade of PKA with Rp-adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate triethylammonium did not attenuate the FSK-induced stimulation. To ensure that disruption of HCN channels on GnRH-1 neurons was responsible for reduction of FSK stimulation, experiments were performed removing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major excitatory input to GnRH-1 neurons in nasal explants. Under these conditions, Rp-adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate triethylammonium, but not ZD7288, altered the FSK-induced response of GnRH-1 neurons. These studies indicate that PKA-dependent phosphorylation is involved in the FSK-induced stimulation of GnRH-1 neurons rather than HCN channels, and HCN channels integrate the FSK-induced stimulation on GABAergic neurons. In addition, blockade of HCN channels did not modify basal GnRH-1 neuronal activity when GABAergic input was intact or removed, negating a role for these channels in basal GABAergic or GnRH-1 neuronal activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (8) ◽  
pp. 1203-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia P. Alvarez-Baron ◽  
Vadim A. Klenchin ◽  
Baron Chanda

Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) channels generate rhythmic activity in the heart and brain. Isoform-specific functional differences reflect the specializations required for the various roles that they play. Despite a high sequence and structural similarity, HCN isoforms differ greatly in their response to cyclic nucleotides. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) enhances the activity of HCN2 and HCN4 isoforms by shifting the voltage dependence of activation to more depolarized potentials, whereas HCN1 and HCN3 isoforms are practically insensitive to this ligand. Here, to determine the molecular basis for increased cAMP efficacy in HCN2 channels, we progressively mutate residues in the C-linker and cyclic nucleotide–binding domain (CNBD) of the mouse HCN2 to their equivalents in HCN1. We identify two clusters of mutations that determine the differences in voltage-dependent activation between these two isoforms. One maps to the C-linker region, whereas the other is in proximity to the cAMP-binding site in the CNBD. A mutant channel containing just five mutations (M485I, G497D, S514T, V562A, and S563G) switches cAMP sensitivity of full-length HCN2 to that of HCN1 channels. These findings, combined with a detailed analysis of various allosteric models for voltage- and ligand-dependent gating, indicate that these residues alter the ability of the C-linker to transduce signals from the CNBD to the pore gates of the HCN channel.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-224
Author(s):  
Liping Liao ◽  
Xianguang Lin ◽  
Jielin Hu ◽  
Xin Wu ◽  
Xiaofei Yang ◽  
...  

The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel, which mediates the influx of cations, has an important role in action potential generation. In this article, we describe the contribution of the HCN channel to action potential generation. We simulated several common ion channels in neuron membranes based on data from rat dorsal root ganglion cells and modeled the action potential. The ion channel models employed in this paper were based on the Markov model. After modifying and calibrating these models, we compared the simulated action potential curves under the presence and absence of an HCN channel and calculated that the proportional contribution of the HCN channel in the potential recovery phase was 33.39%. This result indicates that the HCN channel is critical in assisting membrane potential recovery from a hyperpolarized state to a resting state. Furthermore, we showed how the HCN channel modifies the firing of the action potential using mathematic modeling. Our results indicated that although the loss of the HCN channel made recovery of the membrane potential more difficult from the most negative point to resting in comparison with the control, the firing rate of the action potential increased in certain circumstances. We present a novel explanation for the HCN channels? mechanism in neuron action potential generation using mathematical models.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (24) ◽  
pp. 8164-8173
Author(s):  
Ze-Jun Wang ◽  
Ismary Blanco ◽  
Sebastien Hayoz ◽  
Tinatin I. Brelidze

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are major regulators of synaptic plasticity and rhythmic activity in the heart and brain. Opening of HCN channels requires membrane hyperpolarization and is further facilitated by intracellular cyclic nucleotides (cNMPs). In HCN channels, membrane hyperpolarization is sensed by the membrane-spanning voltage sensor domain (VSD), and the cNMP-dependent gating is mediated by the intracellular cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD) connected to the pore-forming S6 transmembrane segment via the C-linker. Previous functional analysis of HCN channels has suggested a direct or allosteric coupling between the voltage- and cNMP-dependent activation mechanisms. However, the specifics of this coupling remain unclear. The first cryo-EM structure of an HCN1 channel revealed that a novel structural element, dubbed the HCN domain (HCND), forms a direct structural link between the VSD and C-linker–CNBD. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of the HCND. Deletion of the HCND prevented surface expression of HCN2 channels. Based on the HCN1 structure analysis, we identified Arg237 and Gly239 residues on the S2 of the VSD that form direct interactions with Ile135 on the HCND. Disrupting these interactions abolished HCN2 currents. We also identified three residues on the C-linker–CNBD (Glu478, Gln482, and His559) that form direct interactions with residues Arg154 and Ser158 on the HCND. Disrupting these interactions affected both voltage- and cAMP-dependent gating of HCN2 channels. These findings indicate that the HCND is necessary for the cell-surface expression of HCN channels and provides a functional link between voltage- and cAMP-dependent mechanisms of HCN channel gating.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 16-17
Author(s):  
Cassandra P Wang ◽  
Mashette Syrkin-Nikolau ◽  
Lauge Farnaes ◽  
Doris Shen ◽  
Maria Kanegaye ◽  
...  

Children with hematologic malignancies receiving vincristine chemotherapy are at high risk for developing neuromuscular and musculoskeletal complications [Gohar et al., 2010]. Clinical findings range from sensory disturbances to autonomic dysfunction. Impairments include distal sensory loss in the lower limbs that progress proximally, loss of Achilles tendon reflexes, paresthesias, and loss of proprioception [Vainionpää et al., 1995]. Physical therapy (PT) has been shown to be a helpful intervention in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), with improvement in ankle range of motion and knee extension strength, as well as increases in muscular strength and functional mobility [Gohar et al., 2010; Marchese et al., 2004; San juan et al., 2007]. These studies suggest that physical therapy and exercise rehabilitation can be useful interventions to reduce the adverse side effects associated with CIPN. Early identification and treatment of CIPN may be able to improve the quality of life and functional outcomes in children receiving chemotherapy who are at higher risk of developing decreased strength and impaired mobility. Our aim was to screen for CIPN symptoms in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving vincristine chemotherapy, identify those experiencing significant CIPN, and obtain a baseline assessment on the percentage of patients utilizing PT in the treatment of CIPN. A review of existing medical records of patients who received vincristine at a large regional tertiary care children's hospital was conducted. Surveys (Table 1) assessing CIPN symptoms were administered to patients and their caregivers during clinic appointments during October 2016 through March 2018. Scores from each of the four questions were tallied to obtain a final score indicating severity of patient's symptoms, with a max score of 12. Scores of 1 or greater suggested development of CIPN. Scores between 1 and 3 were considered clinically mild to moderate, and 4 or greater were considered clinically severe. A total of 116 unique patients participated in the survey, with 102 patients (67 male and 35 female) eligible for analysis. Ages ranged from 4 to 20 years old (4-10 years of age, N = 63; 11-15 years of age, N = 19; 16-20 years of age, N = 20). Cancer diagnoses and cycles of chemotherapy are displayed in Tables 2 and 3. More than half (67.6%, N = 69) of the 102 patients receiving vincristine developed CIPN, of which 16.7% of those 69 patients reported clinically severe symptoms. Common parental concerns noted on the surveys included decreased energy and strength, difficulty walking up and down stairs, limping, increased tripping, and foot drops. However, only 55.1% (38) of the patients who reported CIPN symptoms were referred to outpatient physical therapy; of these patients, 63% (24) set up appointments and utilized the service. A little under half (44.9%, 31) of patients who reported CIPN symptoms on the survey were not referred to outpatient physical therapy. Of the patients who were not referred, 87% (27) had mild to moderate scores of 1-3 and 13% (4) had clinically severe scores of 4 or greater. Approximately one third of all patients received inpatient physical therapy while they were hospitalized during their chemotherapy treatment course. In this study, we found that a simple survey consisting of 5 questions that only took several minutes to administer identified CIPN symptoms in 67.6% of patients receiving vincristine chemotherapy, which is comparable to 78% of patients with vincristine related neuropathy in the literature [Lavoie smith et al., 2015]. The survey also identified those with CIPN symptoms who were not referred to PT, for reasons possibly attributed to a lack of recognition of CIPN symptoms warranting intervention by the provider, scheduling delays, a limitation of "clean" physical therapy treatment rooms for immunocompromised patients, healthcare visit fatigue, as well as socioeconomic barriers limiting access of care for the patient. Further investigation into the identification of these barriers is important in ensuring that all children and adolescents with CIPN are able to access and utilize physical therapy. Future directions to explore include routine annual screening for development of CIPN, and a study comparing CIPN survey scores of patients before and after physical therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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