https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/751 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:24:27 GMT 2026-10-10T22:24:27Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60877 Title: TWIK-1 plays distinct roles in spinal and peripheral sensory circuits controlling mechanical sensitivity and neuropathic hypersensitivity Author(s): Seo Young Yang; Tery Yun; Yunjeong Lee; Jae Hyuk Jeon; Seojung Kim; Eun Yeong Lim; Junhee Park; Kim, Yong Geon; Jonghoon Jung; Woo, Jin-Nyeong; Yan Zhang; Hyeonwi Son; John Shannonhouse; Juhyun Kim; Eunsil Cho; Young Hoon Sung; Eun-Mi Hwang; Byung-Chang Suh; Pojeong Park; Mi-Ryoung Song; Myungin Baek; Jaekwang Lee; Yu Shin Kim; Jae-Yong Park; Hyosang Lee Abstract: Ion channels are essential for sensing somatic stimuli, and their dysregulation can cause chronic conditions such as neuropathic pain. Although the potassium channel Twik-1 has been linked to sensory processing, its specific roles in the somatosensory system under normal and disease conditions remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that systemic deletion of Twik-1 selectively reduces innocuous tactile and noxious mechanosensation evoked by both static and dynamic mechanical stimuli and facilitates recovery from mechanical hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury. Conditional deletion of Twik-1 in spinal cord neurons, pan-inhibitory neurons, or spinal inhibitory interneurons consistently disrupts innocuous tactile and noxious mechanical sensitivity, while sparing responses to high-intensity mechanical stimulation as well as noxious heat and cold. Notably, these manipulations do not affect nerve injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. In contrast, selective deletion of Twik-1 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons preserves baseline somatosensory and nociceptive functions, including innocuous tactile and noxious mechanical sensitivity, but impairs the persistence of mechanical hypersensitivity after nerve injury. This reduction in hypersensitivity is accompanied by decreased aberrant excitability in injured DRG neurons and distinct transcriptional changes. Together, these results suggest that Twik-1 facilitates innocuous tactile and noxious mechanosensation through spinal inhibitory circuits under baseline conditions, while supporting the maintenance of neuropathic pain via its functions in primary sensory neurons. Sun, 31 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60877 2026-05-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57299 Title: Astrocytic inhibition of lateral septal neurons promotes diverse stress responses Author(s): Seo, Kain; Won, Sanghyun; Lee, Hee-Yoon; Sin, Yeonju; Lee, Sangho; Park, Hyejin; Kim, Yong Geon; Yang, Seo Young; Kim, Dong-Jae; Suk, Kyoungho; Koo, Ja Wook; Baek, Myungin; Choi, Se-Young; Lee, Hyosang Abstract: Inhibitory neuronal circuits within the lateral septum (LS) play a key role in regulating mood and stress responses. Even though glial cells can modulate these circuits, the impact of astrocytes on LS neural circuits and their functional interactions remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes exhibit increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in response to aversive sensory and social stimuli in both male and female mice. This astrocytic Ca²⁺ elevation inhibits neighboring LS neurons by reducing excitatory synaptic transmissions through A1R-mediated signaling in both the dorsal (LSd) and intermediate LS (LSi) and enhancing inhibitory synaptic transmission via A2AR-mediated signaling in the LSi. At the same time, astrocytes reduce inhibitory tone on distant LS neurons. In the LSd, astrocytes promote social avoidance and anxiety, as well as increased heart rate in socially stressed male mice. In contrast, astrocytes in the LSi contribute to elevated heart rate and heightened blood corticosterone levels in unstressed male mice. These results suggest that the dynamic interactions between astrocytes and neurons within the LS modulate physiological and behavioral responses to stressful experiences. © The Author(s) 2024. Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57299 2024-10-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/15977 Title: The Perspectives of Early Diagnosis of Schizophrenia Through the Detection of Epigenomics-Based Biomarkers in iPSC-Derived Neurons Author(s): Lee, Davin; Seo, Jinsoo; Jeong, Hae Chan; Lee, Hyosang; Lee, Sung Bae Abstract: The lack of early diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenia greatly limits treatment options that deliver therapeutic agents to affected cells at a timely manner. While previous schizophrenia biomarker research has identified various biological signals that are correlated with certain diseases, their reliability and practicality as an early diagnostic tool remains unclear. In this article, we discuss the use of atypical epigenetic and/or consequent transcriptional alterations (ETAs) as biomarkers of early-stage schizophrenia. Furthermore, we review the viability of discovering and applying these biomarkers through the use of cutting-edge technologies such as human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons, brain models, and single-cell level analyses. Copyright © 2021 Lee, Seo, Jeong, Lee and Lee. Sun, 31 Oct 2021 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/15977 2021-10-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/13827 Title: Astrocytic Regulation of Neural Circuits Underlying Behaviors Author(s): Hwang, Sun-Nyoung; Lee, Jae Seung; Seo, Ga In; Lee, Hyosang Abstract: Astrocytes, characterized by a satellite-like morphology, are the most abundant type of glia in the central nervous system. Their main functions have been thought to be limited to providing homeostatic support for neurons, but recent studies have revealed that astrocytes actually actively interact with local neural circuits and play a crucial role in information processing and generating physiological and behavioral responses. Here, we review the emerging roles of astrocytes in many brain regions, particularly by focusing on intracellular changes in astrocytes and their interactions with neurons at the molecular and neural circuit levels. Sun, 31 Jan 2021 15:00:00 GMT https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/13827 2021-01-31T15:00:00Z