Modification of G proteins according to the vomeronasal organ condition
Tue-P1-037
Presented by: Violaine Mechin
Chemical communication in mammals is insured by the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which oversees chemical cues detection. When altered, this organ cannot properly detect these cues strongly impacting the animal life.
Some spontaneous alterations have been recently described in domestic animals and laboratory models, such as inflammation and degeneration due to the aging process. These studies also investigated G proteins expression in VNO affected by these changes, revealing that Gαi2 and G αo proteins are significantly modified in altered VNOs. The aim of this communication is to review the literature that investigated these changes.
Concerning the Gαi2 protein, its expression was shown downregulated during aging in mice, from the age of 10 months (p=0.0003, Kruskal-Wallis test). In pigs, the number of Gai2+ cells were also significantly decreased according to the intensity of the vomeronasalitis (p<0.0001, Fisher exact test). This protein was also slightly decreased in sheep when the VNO was inflamed (p=0.07, GLMM test). However, Gαi2 expression was not modified in the VNOs of mice reared in a confined environment with increased ammonia and dust levels (p=0.3892, GLMM).
Gαo protein expression, in contrary, was upregulated in the pathologically altered VNOs. Aging induced a strong increase of this protein expression in the VNO sensorial epithelium of mice (p<0.0001, GLMM). Gαo protein expression was also upregulated in the VNO of mice reared in confined conditions and exposed to ammonia and dust (p<0.0001, GLMM).
In conclusion, VNO alterations, whatever the cause, can induce several modifications of G proteins expression in the epithelium. These changes seem to induce a downregulation of Gαi2 expression and an upregulation of Gαo protein expression. Since these proteins plays a key role in chemical communication, these findings bring new information and perspectives to better understand their regulation in healthy and altered VNO.
Some spontaneous alterations have been recently described in domestic animals and laboratory models, such as inflammation and degeneration due to the aging process. These studies also investigated G proteins expression in VNO affected by these changes, revealing that Gαi2 and G αo proteins are significantly modified in altered VNOs. The aim of this communication is to review the literature that investigated these changes.
Concerning the Gαi2 protein, its expression was shown downregulated during aging in mice, from the age of 10 months (p=0.0003, Kruskal-Wallis test). In pigs, the number of Gai2+ cells were also significantly decreased according to the intensity of the vomeronasalitis (p<0.0001, Fisher exact test). This protein was also slightly decreased in sheep when the VNO was inflamed (p=0.07, GLMM test). However, Gαi2 expression was not modified in the VNOs of mice reared in a confined environment with increased ammonia and dust levels (p=0.3892, GLMM).
Gαo protein expression, in contrary, was upregulated in the pathologically altered VNOs. Aging induced a strong increase of this protein expression in the VNO sensorial epithelium of mice (p<0.0001, GLMM). Gαo protein expression was also upregulated in the VNO of mice reared in confined conditions and exposed to ammonia and dust (p<0.0001, GLMM).
In conclusion, VNO alterations, whatever the cause, can induce several modifications of G proteins expression in the epithelium. These changes seem to induce a downregulation of Gαi2 expression and an upregulation of Gαo protein expression. Since these proteins plays a key role in chemical communication, these findings bring new information and perspectives to better understand their regulation in healthy and altered VNO.