The Cader lab has discovered that TRESK is a key regulator of nocturnal suprachiasmatic nucleus dynamics and light adaptive responses. Their research is published in Nature Communications today.
Our lives are governed by the day-night, 24-hour cycle. We all have a master clock – the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) to align our physiology and behaviour to this cycle. Proper functioning of the SCN has been shown to be important for a healthy life and for healthy ageing. Conversely disruption of the master clock has been implicated in a wide range of disorders from dementia to cancer.
One of the most important signals to the master clock is the light environment, which is transmitted through our eyes to the SCN. When a light signal is received by this nucleus, this results in changes in molecular rhythms and neuronal firing patterns of the SCN. In this way the SCN is reset to align with a new light-dark cycle. This for example might occur as the days lengthen and shorten over the year with the changing seasons or when travelling across time zones.
The Cader lab have been working on an ion channel called TRESK as an important regulator of nerve excitability. Their previous work has shown that TRESK is important in pain sensation and has a role in migraine. Their recent studies have now revealed that TRESK also regulates nerve excitability in the master clock.
Without TRESK in the SCN, the ability to adapt to a light signal is significantly compromised and SCN neurons are hyper-excitable. This research highlights the importance of TRESK in how the master clock functions and responds to environmental signals. The implications of these novel findings on conditions such as migraine where patients show light sensitivity will be explored in future studies.
"Kichapo cha Cader kinasema kuwa ""Tresk ni kipaumbele cha kudhibiti mwendo wa usiku wa kiini cha suprachiasmatic na majibu ya kubadilika kwa mwanga.""" Utafiti wao umechapishwa katika Nature Communications leo. Maisha yetu yanatawaliwa na mzunguko wa saa 24 za mchana na usiku. Kila mtu ana saa ya kipekee, yaani, kiini cha suprachiasmatic (SCN), ambayo huelekeza utendaji wake na tabia yake kwa mzunguko huo. Utendaji sahihi wa SCN umeonyeshwa kuwa muhimu kwa maisha yenye afya na kwa kuzeeka kwa afya. Kwa upande mwingine, kuvurugwa kwa saa kuu kumehusishwa na magonjwa mbalimbali kuanzia ugonjwa wa akili hadi kansa. Moja ya ishara muhimu zaidi kwa saa kuu ni mazingira ya mwanga, ambayo hupitishwa kupitia macho yetu kwa SCN. Wakati ishara ya mwanga inapopokelewa na kiini hiki, hii husababisha mabadiliko katika mdundo wa molekuli na mifumo ya moto wa neva ya SCN. Kwa njia hii SCN ni reset ili align na mzunguko mpya mwanga- giza. Hii inaweza kutokea kwa mfano kama siku kupanua na kufupisha zaidi ya mwaka na kubadilisha misimu au wakati wa kusafiri katika maeneo ya muda. Maabara ya Cader imekuwa ikifanya kazi kwenye njia ya ioni inayoitwa TRESK kama mdhibiti muhimu wa msisimko wa neva. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kuwa TRESK ina athari kubwa kwa maumivu ya kichwa na migraine. Uchunguzi wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kwamba TRESK pia inasimamia msukumo wa neva katika saa kuu. Bila TRESK katika SCN, uwezo wa kukabiliana na ishara ya mwanga ni kwa kiasi kikubwa kuathiriwa na SCN neurons ni hyper-excitable. Utafiti huu unaangazia umuhimu wa TRESK katika jinsi saa kuu inafanya kazi na inavyokabiliana na ishara za mazingira. Matokeo ya matokeo haya ya kisasa juu ya hali kama vile migraine ambapo wagonjwa huonyesha unyeti wa mwanga yatachunguzwa katika masomo ya baadaye.