据介绍，触觉是由机械激活的离子通道实现的，离子通道的打开会刺激皮肤感觉末梢来启动感觉。
研究人员将ELKIN1确定为一种可能由机械力门控的离子通道，这是小鼠正常触摸敏感性所必需的。Elkin1-/-小鼠的触摸不敏感是由光触摸激活的所有感觉神经元（低阈值机械感受器）中约一半的机械激活电流（MA电流）损失引起的。将Elkin1重新引入Elkin1-/-小鼠的感觉神经元中恢复了MA电流。
此外，小干扰RNA介导的从诱导的人类感觉神经元敲低ELKIN1显著减少了压痕诱导的MA电流，支持ELKIN1在人类触觉中的保守作用。
总之，这一数据表明，ELKIN1是小鼠和人类触摸转导的核心成分。
附：英文原文
Title: Touch sensation requires the mechanically gated ion channel ELKIN1
Author: Sampurna Chakrabarti, Jasmin D. Klich, Mohammed A. Khallaf, Amy J. Hulme, Oscar Sánchez-Carranza, Zuzanna M. Baran, Alice Rossi, Angela Tzu-Lun Huang, Tobias Pohl, Raluca Fleischer, Carina Fürst, Annette Hammes, Valérie Bégay, Hanna Hrnberg, Rocio K. Finol-Urdaneta, Kate Poole, Mirella Dottori, Gary R. Lewin
Issue&Volume: 2024-03-01
Abstract: Touch perception is enabled by mechanically activated ion channels, the opening of which excites cutaneous sensory endings to initiate sensation. In this study, we identify ELKIN1 as an ion channel likely gated by mechanical force, necessary for normal touch sensitivity in mice. Touch insensitivity in Elkin1/ mice was caused by a loss of mechanically activated currents (MA currents) in around half of all sensory neurons activated by light touch (low-threshold mechanoreceptors). Reintroduction of Elkin1 into sensory neurons from Elkin1/ mice restored MA currents. Additionally, small interfering RNA–mediated knockdown of ELKIN1 from induced human sensory neurons substantially reduced indentation-induced MA currents, supporting a conserved role for ELKIN1 in human touch. Our data identify ELKIN1 as a core component of touch transduction in mice and potentially in humans.
DOI: adl0495
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0495