Immunoglobulinfree light chains reduce in an antigen-specific manner the rate of rise of action potentials of mouse non-nociceptive dorsal root ganglion neurons

J Neuroimmunol. 2013 Nov 15;264(1-2):14-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.08.015. Epub 2013 Aug 31.

Abstract

Plasma B cells secrete immunoglobulinfree light chains (IgLC) which by binding to mast cells can mediate hypersensitivity responses and are involved in several immunological disorders. To investigate the effects of antigen-specific IgLC activation, intracellular recordings were made from cultured murine dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, which can specifically bind IgLC. The neurons were sensitized with IgLC for 90min and subsequently activated by application of the corresponding antigen (DNP-HSA). Antigen application induced a decrease in the rate of rise of the action potentials of non-nociceptive neurons (MANOVA, p=2.10(-6)), without affecting the resting membrane potential or firing threshold. The action potentials of the nociceptive neurons (p=0.57) and the electrical excitability of both types of neurons (p>0.35) were not affected. We conclude that IgLC can mediate antigen-specific responses by reducing the rate of rise of action potentials in non-nociceptive murine DRG neurons. We suggest that antigen-specific activation of IgLC-sensitized non-nociceptive DRG neurons may contribute to immunological hypersensitivity responses and neuroinflammation.

Keywords: Action potential duration; Hypersensitivity reaction; Na(v) channel; Neuroinflammation; Nociceptive neurons; Pain.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Antigens / metabolism
  • Biophysical Phenomena / drug effects
  • Biophysics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Ganglia, Spinal / cytology*
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neurons / classification
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains