-
Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2021Distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DDSP) is the most prevalent form of diabetic neuropathy, and some of the patients develop gradual pain. Specialized sensory...
Distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DDSP) is the most prevalent form of diabetic neuropathy, and some of the patients develop gradual pain. Specialized sensory structures present in the skin encode different modalities of somatosensitivity such as temperature, touch, and pain. The cutaneous sensory structures responsible for the qualities of mechanosensitivity (fine touch, vibration) are collectively known as cutaneous mechanoreceptors (Meissner corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, and Merkel cell-axonal complexes), which results are altered during diabetes. Here, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze the density, localization within the dermis, arrangement of corpuscular components (axons and Schwann-like cells), and expression of putative mechanoproteins (PIEZO2, ASIC2, and TRPV4) in cutaneous mechanoreceptors of subjects suffering clinically diagnosed non-painful and painful distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. The number of Meissner corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, and Merkel cells was found to be severely decreased in the non-painful presentation of the disease, and almost disappeared in the painful presentation. Furthermore, there was a marked reduction in the expression of axonal and Schwann-like cell markers (with are characteristics of corpuscular denervation) as well as of all investigated mechanoproteins in the non-painful distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy, and these were absent in the painful form. Taken together, these alterations might explain, at least partly, the impairment of mechanosensitivity system associated with distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Furthermore, our results support that an increasing severity of DDSP may increase the risk of developing painful neuropathic symptoms. However, why the absence of cutaneous mechanoreceptors is associated with pain remains to be elucidated.
PubMed: 34640627
DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194609 -
Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer... Aug 2022PIEZO2 is a transmembrane protein forming part of an ion channel required for mechanotransduction. In humans, PIEZO2 is present in axon terminals of adult Meissner and...
BACKGROUND
PIEZO2 is a transmembrane protein forming part of an ion channel required for mechanotransduction. In humans, PIEZO2 is present in axon terminals of adult Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, as well as Merkel cells in Merkel cell-neurite complexes.
METHODS
To study the acquisition of functional capability for mechanotransduction of developing type I slowly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors, i.e., Merkel cell-neurite complexes, a battery of immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques was performed on human skin specimens covering the whole development and growth, from 11 weeks of estimated gestational age to 20 years of life. In addition, developmental expression of PIEZO2 type I (Meissner's corpuscles) and type II (Pacinian corpuscles) rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors was studied in parallel.
RESULTS
The first evidence of Merkel cells showing the typical morphology and placement was at 13 weeks of estimated gestation age, and at this time positive immunoreactivity for PIEZO2 was achieved. PIEZO2 expression in axons terminals started at 23 WEGA in Pacinian corpuscles and at 36 WEGA in the case of Meissner corpuscles. The occurrence of PIEZO2 in Merkel cells, Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles was maintained for all the time investigated. Interestingly PIEZO2 was absent in most Aβ type I slowly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors that innervate MC while it was regularly present in most Aβ type I and type II rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors that supplies Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles.
CONCLUSION
The present results provide evidence that human cutaneous mechanoreceptors could perform mechanotransduction already during embryonic development.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Ion Channels; Mechanoreceptors; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Merkel Cells; Pacinian Corpuscles; Pregnancy; Skin
PubMed: 35523396
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151953 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Spatial acuity is a fundamental property of any sensory system. In the case of the somatosensory system, the two-point discrimination (2PD) test has long been used to...
Spatial acuity is a fundamental property of any sensory system. In the case of the somatosensory system, the two-point discrimination (2PD) test has long been used to investigate tactile spatial resolution. However, the somatosensory system comprises three main mechanoreceptive channels: the slowly adapting channel (SA) responds to steady pressure, the rapidly adapting channel (RA) responds to low-frequency vibration, and the Pacinian channel (PC) responds to high-frequency vibration. The use of mechanical stimuli in the classical 2PD test means that previous studies on tactile acuity have primarily focussed on the pressure-sensitive channel alone, while neglecting other submodalities. Here, we used a novel ultrasound stimulation to systematically investigate the spatial resolution of the two main vibrotactile channels. Contrary to the textbook view of poor spatial resolution for PC-like stimuli, across four experiments we found that high-frequency vibration produced surprisingly good spatial acuity. This effect remained after controlling for interchannel differences in stimulus detectability and perceived intensity. Laser doppler vibrometry experiments confirmed that the acuity of the PC channel was not simply an artifact of the skin's resonance to high-frequency mechanical stimulation. Thus, PC receptors may transmit substantial spatial information, despite their sparse distribution, deep location, and large receptive fields.
Topics: Touch; Mechanoreceptors; Pacinian Corpuscles; Afferent Pathways; Vibration
PubMed: 38036579
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48037-0 -
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA Jul 2021Fast-adapting afferent input from the sole Pacinian corpuscles (PCs) is essential for walking. However, the distribution of PCs in the plantar subcutaneous tissue...
INTRODUCTION
Fast-adapting afferent input from the sole Pacinian corpuscles (PCs) is essential for walking. However, the distribution of PCs in the plantar subcutaneous tissue remains unknown.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using histological sections tangential to the plantar skin of eight near-term fetuses, we counted 528-900 PCs per sole.
RESULTS
Almost half of the sole PCs existed at the level of the proximal phalanx, especially on the superficial side of the long flexor tendons and flexor digitorum brevis. Conversely, the distribution was less evident on the posterior side of the foot. The medial margin of the sole contained fewer PCs than the lateral margin, possibly due to the transverse arch. In contrast to a cluster formation in the anterior foot, posterior PCs were almost always solitary, with a distance greater than 0.5 mm to the nearest PC.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Because a receptive field of PCs is larger than that of the other receptors, fewer solitary PCs might cover the posterior sole. In infants, the amount of anterior sole PCs seemed to determine the initial walking pattern using the anterior foot without heel contact. Anterior PCs concentrated along flexor tendons might play a transient role as tendon organs during the initial learning of walking. During a lesson in infants, mechanical stress from the tendon and muscle was likely to degrade the PCs. In the near term, the sole PCs seemed not to be a mini-version of the adult morphology but suggested an infant-specific function.
Topics: Female; Fetus; Foot; Gait; Humans; Male; Pacinian Corpuscles; Standing Position; Subcutaneous Tissue
PubMed: 33471166
DOI: 10.1007/s00276-021-02685-x -
Joint Diseases and Related Surgery 2022Pacinian disorders are exceedingly rare, and the exact pathogenesis is still unknown. The most common symptoms are pain, sensory changes, and a visible or palpable mass,...
Pacinian disorders are exceedingly rare, and the exact pathogenesis is still unknown. The most common symptoms are pain, sensory changes, and a visible or palpable mass, and diagnosis is usually made by pathological examination after the excision of the painful nodule. In this case report, we present the case of a 49-year-old male with Pacinian corpuscle hyperplasia located on the metacarpophalangeal joint, emerging at the same hand of the patient two years after the treatment due to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report revealing the association of CRPS with hyperplasia of Pacinian corpuscles.
Topics: Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Hand; Humans; Hyperplasia; Male; Middle Aged; Pacinian Corpuscles; Pain
PubMed: 35361103
DOI: 10.52312/jdrs.2022.512 -
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology Jul 2020
Review
Topics: Animals; Biopsy; Chick Embryo; Diagnosis, Differential; Hand; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroma; Pacinian Corpuscles; S100 Proteins; Thumb
PubMed: 32569416
DOI: 10.1111/cup.13637 -
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy 2021Afferent neurons and their mechanoreceptors provide critical sensory feedback for gait. The anatomical distribution and density of afferents and mechanoreceptors...
Afferent neurons and their mechanoreceptors provide critical sensory feedback for gait. The anatomical distribution and density of afferents and mechanoreceptors influence sensory feedback, as does mechanoreceptor function. Electrophysiological studies of hind paw skin reveal the different types of afferent responses and their receptive fields, however, the anatomical distribution of mechanoreceptor endings is unknown. Also, the role of integrin α1β1 in mechanoreceptor function is unclear, though it is expressed by keratinocytes in the stratum basale where it is likely involved in a variety of mechanotransduction pathways and ion channel functionalities. For example, it has been shown that integrin α1β1 is necessary for the function of TRPV4 that is highly expressed by afferent units. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine and compare the distribution of mechanoreceptors across the hind paw skin and the footfall patterns of -null and wild type mice. The -null mouse is lacking the integrin α1 subunit, which binds exclusively to the β1 subunit, thus rendering integrin α1β1 nonfunctional while leaving the numerous other pairings of the β1 subunit undisturbed. Intact hind paws were processed, serially sectioned, and stained to visualize mechanoreceptors. Footfall patterns were analyzed as a first step in correlating mechanoreceptor distribution and functionality. Merkel cells and Meissner-like corpuscles were present, however, Ruffini endings and Pacinian corpuscles were not observed. Meissner-like corpuscles were located exclusively in the glabrous skin of the footpads and digit tips, however, Merkel cells were found throughout hairy and glabrous skin. The increased density of Merkel cells and Meissner-like corpuscles in footpads 1 and 3 and Meissner-like corpuscles in footpad 4 suggests their role in anteroposterior balance, while Meissner-like corpuscle concentrations in digits 2 and 5 support their role in mediolateral balance. Finally, a larger density of Meissner-like corpuscles in footpads 3 and 4 in male -null mice compared to wild type controls paves the way for future site-specific single fiber recordings to provide insight into the role of integrin α1β1 in tactile mechanotransduction.
PubMed: 33737870
DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.628711 -
Pancreas Jul 2021
Topics: Animals; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Humans; Pacinian Corpuscles; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Receptor, trkB; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 34398074
DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001847 -
Nature Communications Sep 2019Biological cellular structures have inspired many scientific disciplines to design synthetic structures that can mimic their functions. Here, we closely emulate...
Biological cellular structures have inspired many scientific disciplines to design synthetic structures that can mimic their functions. Here, we closely emulate biological cellular structures in a rationally designed synthetic multicellular hybrid ion pump, composed of hydrogen-bonded [EMIM][TFSI] ion pairs on the surface of silica microstructures (artificial mechanoreceptor cells) embedded into thermoplastic polyurethane elastomeric matrix (artificial extracellular matrix), to fabricate ionic mechanoreceptor skins. Ionic mechanoreceptors engage in hydrogen bond-triggered reversible pumping of ions under external stimulus. Our ionic mechanoreceptor skin is ultrasensitive (48.1-5.77 kPa) over a wide spectrum of pressures (0-135 kPa) at an ultra-low voltage (1 mV) and demonstrates the ability to surpass pressure-sensing capabilities of various natural skin mechanoreceptors (i.e., Merkel cells, Meissner's corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles). We demonstrate a wearable drone microcontroller by integrating our ionic skin sensor array and flexible printed circuit board, which can control directions and speed simultaneously and selectively in aerial drone flight.
Topics: Adult; Biomimetics; Biosensing Techniques; Electrochemistry; Humans; Hydrogen Bonding; Mechanoreceptors; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Merkel Cells; Physical Stimulation; Polyurethanes; Pressure; Silica Gel; Skin; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Touch
PubMed: 31488820
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11973-5 -
ELife Aug 2019The established view is that vibrotactile stimuli evoke two qualitatively distinctive cutaneous sensations, flutter (frequencies < 60 Hz) and vibratory hum (frequencies...
The established view is that vibrotactile stimuli evoke two qualitatively distinctive cutaneous sensations, flutter (frequencies < 60 Hz) and vibratory hum (frequencies > 60 Hz), subserved by two distinct receptor types (Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscle, respectively), which may engage different neural processing pathways or channels and fulfil quite different biological roles. In psychological and physiological literature, those two systems have been labelled as Pacinian and non-Pacinian channels. However, we present evidence that low-frequency spike trains in Pacinian afferents can readily induce a vibratory percept with the same low frequency attributes as sinusoidal stimuli of the same frequency, thus demonstrating a universal frequency decoding system. We achieved this using brief low-amplitude pulsatile mechanical stimuli to selectively activate Pacinian afferents. This indicates that spiking pattern, regardless of receptor type, determines vibrotactile frequency perception. This mechanism may underlie the constancy of vibrotactile frequency perception across different skin regions innervated by distinct afferent types.
Topics: Action Potentials; Adult; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Mechanoreceptors; Sensory Thresholds; Touch; Touch Perception; Young Adult
PubMed: 31383258
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.46510