TLDR Neurotrophin-4 increases calcium current in specific mouse neurons through the PI3K pathway.
The study demonstrated that neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) modulated the Cav3.2 T-type calcium current in mechanosensitive D-hair neurons in mice. Interruption of NT-4 supply via peripheral nerve axotomy led to a decrease in T-current amplitude, which was restored by NT-4 incubation. Genetic deletion of NT-4 also resulted in a loss of T-current, reversible by NT-4 addition. NT-4 did not affect T-current in Cav3.2-/- neurons, nor did it alter the biophysical properties or transcript expression of Cav3.2. The study identified the PI3K pathway, activated by the TrkB receptor, as crucial for T-current potentiation, highlighting NT-4's role in regulating mechanosensitive neuron function through post-transcriptional up-regulation of the Cav3.2 T-current.
34 citations
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July 2006 in “The Journal of Comparative Neurology” The study investigated the effects of overexpressing neurotrophin 4 (NT4) in the skin of transgenic mice to understand its role in sensory development. It was found that NT4 overexpression increased skin innervation, enhanced hair follicle innervation, and increased the size and density of Meissner corpuscle innervation, similar to the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) overexpression. However, unlike BDNF, NT4 did not change the number of Merkel cells in glabrous skin but did increase the number of myelinated axons in nerves projecting to the skin. Despite these changes, there was no increase in the total number of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion or trigeminal ganglion, indicating that NT4 and BDNF have both overlapping and distinct effects on cutaneous sensory innervation.
99 citations
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January 2004 in “Progress in brain research” Neurotrophins are important for hair growth and could help treat hair loss.
19 citations
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February 2016 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” KCNQ potassium channels help control the sensitivity of touch receptors in the skin.
5 citations
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January 2012 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Hura crepitans and its compound daphne factor F3 may help treat hair loss by blocking a specific hair growth inhibitor.
34 citations
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July 2006 in “The Journal of Comparative Neurology” The study investigated the effects of overexpressing neurotrophin 4 (NT4) in the skin of transgenic mice to understand its role in sensory development. It was found that NT4 overexpression increased skin innervation, enhanced hair follicle innervation, and increased the size and density of Meissner corpuscle innervation, similar to the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) overexpression. However, unlike BDNF, NT4 did not change the number of Merkel cells in glabrous skin but did increase the number of myelinated axons in nerves projecting to the skin. Despite these changes, there was no increase in the total number of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion or trigeminal ganglion, indicating that NT4 and BDNF have both overlapping and distinct effects on cutaneous sensory innervation.
24 citations
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January 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Blocking a specific receptor slows down hair loss in mice.
7 citations
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January 2017 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Certain compounds from Panax ginseng can block proteins that affect hair growth, potentially helping treat hair loss.
