Touch and Tension: Molecular Determinants of Human Mechanosensation

触觉和肌肉紧张的感觉是由周围神经系统中的机械感觉神经元发起的。人类机械感觉神经元的知识主要依赖于啮齿动物的研究，因为人类组织的可用性有限，这并不理想。我们的团队已经开发出了新的技术，用于在“盘子”中产生人类机械感觉神经元。本项目的主要目的是利用人类干细胞衍生的机械感觉神经元作为平台，广泛研究其分子和功能特性。显著的好处是人类机械感觉系统的知识的进步，这是迄今为止一直缺乏的，并在长期的进展，新药物的商业开发。

Feelings of touch and muscle tension are initiated by mechanosensory neurons found within the peripheral nervous system. Knowledge of human mechanosensory neurons has predominantly relied on rodent studies because of the limited availability of human tissue, which is not ideal. Our team has developed novel technologies for generating human mechanosensory neurons ‘in the dish’. The major aim of this project is to use human stem cell-derived mechanosensory neurons as a platform to extensively study their molecular and functional properties. The significant benefits are the advancement of knowledge in the human mechanosensory system, which to date has been lacking, and in the long-term progress commercial development of novel drugs.