Project summary :

We showed that the TREK1 potassium channel, known to be involved in pain sensitivity and widely expressed in the nervous system, is involved in the analgesic effect of morphine but not in its adverse effects. This makes it a particularly interesting target for the development of new analgesic drugs with an improved benefit/risk ratio. However, questions remain regarding the mechanisms involving TREK1 in pain and, given the widespread expression of TREK1, we need to explore its possible role in other physiological functions to better assess the safety of future drugs acting on TREK1. We also recently discovered a role for TREK1 channels in itch perception that needs to be explored further. To better understand the contribution of TREK1 channels to the pathophysiology of pain and itch, and the possible adverse effects triggered by the pharmacological modulation of TREK1, we wish to study its expression in the nervous system and various organs, and carry out functional studies aimed at to characterize the role of peripheral and central TREK1 channels in neuronal activity, in physiological functions and in the perception of pain/itch.

Therefore, the objectives of this internship are as follows:

– Study TREK1 expression in neural and non-nervous tissues using a fluorescent reporter mouse and immunohistochemistry, tissue clearing, and light-sheet microscopy.
– Determine the role of peripheral and central TREK1 channels in pain and itch in vivo using behavioral analyzes in conditional knockout mice (constitutive and/or virus-induced vectors) as well as two-photon calcium imaging in vivo in sensory neurons.

Profile :
We are looking for a highly motivated student, with training in neuroscience, pharmacology and/or physiology, and willing to undertake a doctoral thesis after this internship. A validated qualification for animal testing is preferred but not required.