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How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Donnelly, CR; Chen, O; Ji, R-R
Published in: Trends Neurosci
October 2020

Sensory neurons are activated by physical and chemical stimuli, eliciting sensations such as temperature, touch, pain, and itch. From an evolutionary perspective, sensing danger is essential for organismal survival. Upon infection and injury, immune cells respond to pathogen/damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs) through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and produce inflammatory mediators that activate sensory neurons through neuro-immune interactions. Sensory neurons also express TLRs and other PRRs that directly sense danger signals after injury or during infection, leading to pain, itch, or analgesia. In addition to slow-acting canonical TLR signaling, TLRs function uniquely in sensory neurons through non-canonical coupling to ion channels, enabling rapid modulation of neuronal activity. We discuss how sensory neurons utilize TLRs and other PRR pathways to detect danger signals in their environment.

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Published In

Trends Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1878-108X

Publication Date

October 2020

Volume

43

Issue

10

Start / End Page

822 / 838

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sensory Receptor Cells
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition
  • Pain
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
 

Citation

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Donnelly, C. R., Chen, O., & Ji, R.-R. (2020). How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals? Trends Neurosci, 43(10), 822–838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.07.008
Donnelly, Christopher R., Ouyang Chen, and Ru-Rong Ji. “How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals?Trends Neurosci 43, no. 10 (October 2020): 822–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.07.008.
Donnelly CR, Chen O, Ji R-R. How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals? Trends Neurosci. 2020 Oct;43(10):822–38.
Donnelly, Christopher R., et al. “How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals?Trends Neurosci, vol. 43, no. 10, Oct. 2020, pp. 822–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.tins.2020.07.008.
Donnelly CR, Chen O, Ji R-R. How Do Sensory Neurons Sense Danger Signals? Trends Neurosci. 2020 Oct;43(10):822–838.
Journal cover image

Published In

Trends Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1878-108X

Publication Date

October 2020

Volume

43

Issue

10

Start / End Page

822 / 838

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sensory Receptor Cells
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition
  • Pain
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences