Global analyses of mRNA expression in human sensory neurons reveals eIF5A as a conserved target for inflammatory pain

Nociceptors are a type of sensory neurons that is integral to most forms of pain. Targeted disruption of nociceptor sensitization affords unique opportunities to prevent pain. An emerging model for nociceptors are sensory neurons derived from human stem cells. Here, we subjected five groups to high-throughput sequencing: human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) prior to differentiation, mature hiPSC-derived sensory neurons, mature co-cultures containing hiPSC-derived astrocytes and sensory neurons, mouse DRG tissues, and mouse DRG cultures. Co-culture of nociceptors and astrocytes promotes expression of transcripts enriched in DRG tissues. Comparisons of the hiPSC models to tissue samples reveals that many key genes linked to pain are present. Marker genes indicative of a range of neuronal subtypes present in the DRG were detected in mature hiPSCs. Intriguingly, translation factors were maintained at consistently high expression levels across species and culture systems. As a proof of concept for the utility of this resource, we validated expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) in DRG tissues and hiPSC samples. eIF5A is subject to a unique post-translational hypusine modification required for its activity. Inhibition of hypusine biosynthesis prevented hyperalgesic priming by inflammatory mediators in vivo. One of two hypusine inhibitors diminished hiPSC activity in vitro. Collectively, our results illuminate the transcriptomes of hiPSC sensory neuron models. We provide a proof of concept for this resource through our investigation of eIF5A. Our findings reveal hypusine as a potential target for inflammation associated pain in males. Overall design: RNA-sequencing of mouse DRG cultures and tissues. RNA sequencing of immature, mature monoculture and mature astrocyte co-culture hiPSCs.