Neuropilin-1 is a co-receptor for NGF and TrkA-evoked pain

Peach, C. J.; Tonello, R.; Gomez, K.; Calderon-Rivera, A.; Rodriguez Sanchez, M.; Maile, L.; Perez-Miller, S.; Manu, A.-M.; Hahn, H.; Thomsen, A. R. B.; Schmidt, B. L.; Davidson, S.; Khanna, M.; Khanna, R.; Bunnett, N. W.

doi:10.1101/2023.12.06.570398

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.12.06.570398

Neuropilin-1 is a co-receptor for NGF and TrkA-evoked pain

Peach, C. J.·Tonello, R.·Gomez, K.·Calderon-Rivera, A.·Rodriguez Sanchez, M.·Maile, L.·Perez-Miller, S.·Manu, A.-M.·Hahn, H.·Thomsen, A. R. B.·Schmidt, B. L.·Davidson, S.·Khanna, M.·Khanna, R.·Bunnett, N. W.

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) monoclonal antibodies inhibit chronic pain yet, failed to gain approval due to worsened joint damage in osteoarthritis patients. We report that neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a co-receptor for NGF and tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) pain signaling. NRP1 is coexpressed with TrkA in human and mouse nociceptors. NRP1 inhibitors suppress NGF-stimulated excitation of human and mouse nociceptors and NGF-evoked nociception in mice. NRP1 knockdown inhibits NGF/TrkA signaling, whereas NRP1 overexpression enhances signaling. NGF binds NRP1 with high affinity and interacts with and chaperones TrkA from the biosynthetic pathway to the plasma membrane and endosomes, enhancing TrkA signaling. Molecular modeling suggests that C-terminal R/KXXR/K NGF motif interacts with extracellular "b" NRP1 domain within a plasma membrane NGF/TrkA/NRP1 of 2:2:2 stoichiometry. G Alpha Interacting Protein C-terminus 1 (GIPC1) scaffolds NRP1 and TrkA to myosin VI and colocalizes in nociceptors with NRP1/TrkA. GIPC1 knockdown abrogates NGF-evoked excitation of nociceptors and pain-like behavior. NRP1 is a nociceptor-enriched co-receptor that facilitates NGF/TrkA pain signaling. NRP binds NGF and chaperones TrkA to the plasma membrane and signaling endosomes via the GIPC1 adaptor. NRP1 and GIPC1 antagonism in nociceptors offers a long-awaited non-opioid alternative to systemic antibody NGF sequestration for the treatment of chronic pain. SummaryNeuropilin-1 and G Alpha Interacting Protein C-terminus 1 are necessary for nerve growth factor-evoked pain and are non-opioid therapeutic targets for chronic pain.

Explore related subjects

neuroscience Preprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Peach, C. J., Tonello, R., Gomez, K., Calderon-Rivera, A., Rodriguez Sanchez, M., Maile, L., Perez-Miller, S., Manu, A.-M., Hahn, H., Thomsen, A. R. B., Schmidt, B. L., Davidson, S., Khanna, M., Khanna, R., Bunnett, N. W.. 2023-12-06. Neuropilin-1 is a co-receptor for NGF and TrkA-evoked pain. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.06.570398

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Rab10 and Arhgef7 interact to promote axon extension by linking vesicle supply and exocytosis

The formation of functional neural circuits begins with the extension of a single axon by immature neurons. Axon elongation requires an expansion of the plasma membrane that depends on the polarization of vesicle trafficking and exocytosis. It is not completely understood how the increased transport of vesicles into the growing axon is linked to their subsequent insertion into the plasma membrane. An analysis of early stages of neuronal differentiation indicates that an asymmetry in neurite length precedes axon specification and the accumulation of PPVs in the nascent axon. We show that increasing the transport of vesicles in unpolarized neurons is sufficient to promote the extension of additional axons. This effect indicates that an increased supply of vesicles stimulates their subsequent insertion into the membrane to allow neurite growth. The link between vesicle transport and exocytosis is mediated by the interaction of Rab10 with Arhgef7. Rab10 stimulates Arhgef7 activity on PPVs as a GEF for Cdc42b to promote axon extension through exocyst-dependent exocytosis, suggesting that their interaction links the increased supply of PPVs to their exocytosis.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Subcellular Spatial Profiling Unveils Links Between Neuritic Plaques with Selective Tau Vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) features widespread extracellular amyloid-{beta} plaques but selective intraneuronal tau accumulation in cortical layers II/III and V, while layer IV remains relatively resistant. Here, we combined subcellular spatial transcriptomics with co-registered A{beta} and pTau immunohistochemistry to determine why neurons exposed to comparable plaque-associated pathology differ in somatic pTau accumulation. Plaque-associated neuritic stress occurred similarly across layers, but layer IV neurons showed attenuated pTau accumulation and reduced somatic expression of a shared neurite-soma stress program involving DCTN1, CALM3, NORAD, and PIN1. Trajectory analysis within layers identified tau-vulnerable and resistant neuronal states implicating calcium signaling, retrograde transport, and lysosomal function. Notably, astrocytic APOE-neuronal LRP1 co-expression increased significantly along the pTau-vulnerable trajectory, and APOE {epsilon}4 was associated with stronger coupling of local plaque pathology to pTau-associated molecular programs. These findings reveal neuronal programs and neuron-glia interactions underlying selective tau vulnerability and resistance in AD, highlighting potential tau-targeting therapeutics.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Widespread oscillatory suppression in autism persists in the absence of psychotropic medication.

Purpose: Investigate the neural oscillatory activity associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings in children and adolescents. Compare the corresponding oscillatory power between ASD patients taking psychotropic medication with a drug-naive group. Methods: ASD diagnosis was done using DSM-IV and CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale). EEG recordings employed 22 scalp electrodes (10/20 system). ASD vs. neurotypical groups were matched for sex and age (5 females; average age: ~10 years old). We analyzed the resting state (eyes open) EEG power spectrum during ~2-minute recordings. The multitaper FFT method was used to estimate spectral power for the delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands. We pooled together data from several electrodes to compute comprehensive power spectra and assess the oscillatory behavior of macro brain regions. Results: We observed widespread (~4Hz - 20Hz) oscillatory suppression comprising the theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. The most widespread and robust ASD-associated power suppression was in the high theta and alpha bands. Delta and gamma bands showed no significant power change for any of the brain regions studied. Results from a subgroup of patients (N = 9) who never used psychotropics confirmed these findings, indicating that they are not an artifact of medication. Conclusion: Suppression in theta, alpha and beta oscillations may offer insights into the neurophysiological underpinnings of autism and could be used as an accessible and comprehensive tool in ASD diagnosis, regardless of the patients being or not on medication.

neuroscience↗