Invention novelty: JHU researchers have generated generated Pirt-Cre mice in which Cre recombinase is expressed specifically in all primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) under the control of Pirt promoter.
Value Proposition:Primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) play essential role in initiating, transmitting, and modulating pain and itch signals from the periphery. Pirt is a modulator of several TRP channels. Strikingly, Pirt is expressed specifically in all primary sensory neurons in the DRG and not in any CNS neurons. Dysfunction of DRG neurons often leads to various pathological conditions including chronic pain and itch. Therefore, DRG neurons are major targets for drug development of treating chronic pain and itch. However, no one has developed a method to genetically manipulate all DRG neurons specifically before our invention. The researchers have generated Pirt-Cre mice in which Cre recombinase is expressed specifically in Pirt positive neurons. Pirt-Cre mice allow us to genetically manipulate (i.e. labeling, activating, and inhibiting) and study DRG neurons. Therefore, Pirt-Cre mice are powerful tool to study pain and itch initiation, transmission, and modulation. In addition, these mice are extremely useful for evaluating anti-pain and itch drugs.
Technical Details:The researchers have generated Pirt-Cre mice in which Cre recombinase is expressed specifically in Pirt positive neurons. Pirt-Cre mice allow us to genetically manipulate (i.e. labeling, activating, and inhibiting) and study DRG neurons. Therefore, Pirt-Cre mice are powerful tool to study pain and itch initiation, transmission, and modulation. In addition, these mice are extremely useful for evaluating anti-pain and itch drugs.
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: Cell. 2008 May 2;133(3):475-85.
