Advanced cancer perineural invasion induces profound peripheral neuronal plasticity, pain, and somatosensory mechanical deactivation, unmitigated by the lack of TNFR1. Part 2. Biophysics and gene expression

Preclinical studies addressing the peripheral effects of cancer perineural invasion report severe neuronal availability and excitability changes. Oral cell squamous cell carcinoma perineural invasion (MOC2-PNI) shows similar effects, modulating the afferent’s sensibility (tactile desensitization with concurrent nociceptive sensitization) and demyelination without inducing spontaneous activity (see Part 1.). The current study addresses the electrical status (normal or abnormal) of both active (low threshold mechano receptors (LT) and high threshold mechano receptors (HT)) and inactive (F-type and S-type) afferents. Concurrently, we have also evaluated changes in the genetic landscape that may help to understand the physiological dynamics behind MOC2-PNI-induced functional disruption of the peripheral sensory system. We have observed that the altered cell distribution and mechanical sensibility of the animal’s somatosensory system cannot be explained by cellular electrical dysfunction or MOC2-PNI-induced apoptosis. Although PNI does modify the expression of several genes related to cellular hypersensitivity, these changes are insufficient to explain the MOC2-PNI-induced aberrant neuronal excitability state. Our results indicate that genetic markers provide limited information about the functional hyperexcitable state of the peripheral system. Importantly, our results also highlight the emerging role of plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase activity (PMCA) in explaining several aspects of the observed gender-specific neuronal plasticity and the reported cellular distribution switch generated by MOC2-PNI.