Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels are key players in neuronal excitability and pain signaling. Functional expression of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.7 is under the control of SUMOylated collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). If not SUMOylated, CRMP2 forms a complex with the endocytic proteins Numb, the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 15 (Eps15), and the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 to promote clathrin-mediated endocytosis of NaV1.7. We recently reported that CRMP2 SUMO-null knock-in (CRMP2K374A/K374A) female mice have reduced NaV1.7 membrane localization and currents in their sensory neurons. Preventing CRMP2 SUMOylation was sufficient to reverse mechanical allodynia in CRMP2K374A/K374A female mice with neuropathic pain. Here we report that inhibiting clathrin assembly in nerve-injured male and female CRMP2K374A/K374A mice, increased pain sensitivity in allodynia-resistant animals. Furthermore, Numb, Nedd4-2 and Eps15 expression was not modified in basal conditions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of male and female CRMP2K374A/K374A mice. Finally, silencing these proteins in DRG neurons from female CRMP2K374A/K374A mice, restored the loss of sodium currents. Our study shows that the endocytic complex composed of Numb, Nedd4-2 and Eps15, is necessary for non SUMOylated CRMP2-mediated internalization of sodium channels in vivo.
Competing Interest Statement
R. Khanna is the co-founder of Regulonix LLC, a company developing non-opioids drugs for chronic pain. In addition, R. Khanna has patents US10287334 and US10441586 issued to Regulonix LLC. R. The other authors declare no competing financial interest.
Abbreviations
- Cdk5
- Cyclin-dependent kinase 5
- CRMP2
- Collapsin response mediator protein 2
- DRG
- Dorsal root ganglia
- Eps15
- Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 15
- k
- Slope factor
- NaV1.7
- voltage-gated sodium channel family 1.7
- Nedd4-2
- Neuronal precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated-4 type 2.
- SNI
- Spinal nerve injury
- TTX-S
- Tetrodotoxin-sensitive
- V1/2
- Midpoint potentials