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Papers of the Week


Papers: 19 Nov 2022 - 25 Nov 2022


Animal Studies, Pharmacology/Drug Development


2022 Nov 23


Elife


11

Editor's Pick

Centrally expressed Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel is critical for the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain.

Authors

Fayad SL, Ourties G, Le Gac B, Jouffre B, Lamoine S, Fruquière A, Laffray S, Gasmi L, Cauli B, Mallet C, Bourinet E, Bessaih T, Lambert RC, Leresche N
Elife. 2022 Nov 23; 11.
PMID: 36416409.

Abstract

Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel is a major molecular actor of neuropathic pain in peripheral sensory neurons, but its involvement at the supra-spinal level is almost unknown. In the Anterior Pretectum (APT), a hub of connectivity of the somatosensory system involved in pain perception, we show that Cav3.2 channels are expressed in a sub-population of GABAergic neurons co-expressing parvalbumin (PV). In these PV-expressing neurons, Cav3.2 channels contribute to a high frequency bursting activity, which is increased in the spared nerve injury model of neuropathy. Specific deletion of Cav3.2 channels in APT neurons reduced both the initiation and maintenance of mechanical and cold allodynia. These data are a direct demonstration that centrally expressed Cav3.2 channels also play a fundamental role in pain pathophysiology.