Title Specialized cutaneous Schwann cells initiate pain sensation
Authors Abdo, Hind , Calvo-Enrique, Laura , MARTÍNEZ LÓPEZ, JOSÉ ANTONIO, Song, Jianren , Zhang, Ming-Dong , Usoskin, Dmitry , El Manira, Abdeljabbar , Adameyko, Igor , Hjerling-Leffler, Jens , Ernfors, Patrik
External publication Si
Means Science
Scope Article
Nature Científica
JCR Quartile 1
SJR Quartile 1
JCR Impact 41.845
SJR Impact 13.11
Publication date 16/08/2019
ISI 000481688700048
DOI 10.1126/science.aax6452
Abstract An essential prerequisite for the survival of an organism is the ability to detect and respond to aversive stimuli. Current belief is that noxious stimuli directly activate nociceptive sensory nerve endings in the skin. We discovered a specialized cutaneous glial cell type with extensive processes forming a mesh-like network in the subepidermal border of the skin that conveys noxious thermal and mechanical sensitivity. We demonstrate a direct excitatory functional connection to sensory neurons and provide evidence of a previously unknown organ that has an essential physiological role in sensing noxious stimuli. Thus, these glial cells, which are intimately associated with unmyelinated nociceptive nerves, are inherently mechanosensitive and transmit nociceptive information to the nerve.
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