A role for proprioceptors in sngception.

Abstract

Proprioceptors are primary mechanosensory neurons to monitor the status of muscle contraction and/or body position (<i>1</i>). Although proprioceptors are known as non-nociceptive mechanoreceptors, they also express the pro-nociceptive acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) (<i>2</i>-<i>5</i>). To probe the role for proprioceptors in sensing acidosis (or sngception) (<i>6</i>), we found that genetic deletion of <i>Asic3</i> in proprioceptors but not in nociceptors abolished acid-induced chronic hyperalgesia in mice. Chemo-optogenetically activating proprioceptors resulted in hyperalgesic priming that favored chronic pain induced by acidosis. In humans, intramuscular acidification induced acid perception but not pain. Conversely, in a spinal cord-injured patient who lost pain sensation in the right leg, proprioception and sngception were remaining somatosensory functions, associated with the spinal dorsal column. Together, evidence from both mouse and human studies suggests a role for proprioceptors in sngception.