Yu Shin Kim, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Our research focuses on the function and regulation of sensory modalities including pain, itch, and gentle touch. Special objectives in our research are to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of pain by studying neural circuit activities evoked by pain in basal and disease conditions.

Inflammation and nerve injury can result in chronic pain that can seriously challenge daily activities. Pain is mainly mediated by a subset of primary sensory neurons known as nociceptors in Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) and Trigeminal Ganglia (TG). How DRG neurons function at a population level under physiological and pathological conditions is not known. Therefore, monitoring the activities of primary nociceptive neurons and axons is crucial to understanding pain mechanisms.

Our research projects include 1) identifying novel plasticity mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain, 2) examining the mechanism of Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), 3) determining the mechanism of ongoing and evoked pain, 4) characterizing the contributions of central terminal hypersensitivity of DRG neurons to chronic pain, and 5) uncovering the mechanisms by which damages in skin nerve terminals contributes to chronic pain conditions

Diseases associated with our research

Temporomandibular joint disorder, migraine, diabetic neuropathy, neuropathic pain arising from nerve injury, burns and chemotherapeutic drugs, pruritis

Field of Study

Neurobiology and Neuroscience of pain and itch

Scientific Techniques used

We routinely utilize various techniques including mouse genetics, behavioral assays, electrophysiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, and cell culture models in our laboratory. Molecular biology including gene manipulation techniques such as siRNA knockdown and overexpression systems, mouse behavioral assays, mouse genetics, in vivo imaging and electrophysiological recording in primary sensory neurons, spinal cord and brain are very important aspects of the science of understanding and studying sensory biology.

In vivo imaging is one of the ways pain is depicted. Pain signal detection, transmission and modulation can be detected within the cell bodies that reside in DRG and TG. Enabling the expression of a genetically-encoded Ca2+ sensitive indicator (GCaMP) into the DRG and TG neurons has allowed us to successfully detect the primary sensory neuronal activity in the peripheral and central terminals, and their cell bodies as well. We have developed an imaging technique which allows us to simultaneously monitor the activation of >1,800 neurons in the DRG and >2,800 neurons in the TG. By combining the powerful techniques of in vivo multiphoton confocal microscopic imaging, in vivo microscopic miniscope imaging, and electrophysiological recordings in live and freely behaving animals, we have brought cutting edge technology into the pain research field.

In collaboration with many groups in the world, we have acquired and developed powerful transgenic animal tools to study pain and itch and brought those tools to UTHSCSA with us. We now can visualize specific types of primary sensory neurons in live animals.

Field of Study: Neuroscience Sub Field of Study: Pain Specific Field of Study: Chronic pain, chronic Itch Relevant Conditions: Chronic pain, neuropathic pain, inflammation and its pain, temporomandibular joint disorder and its pain, migraine, diabetic neuropathy, neuropathic pain arising from nerve injury, burns and chemotherapeutic drugs or chemotherapy-induced pain, alcohol withdrawal-induced hypersensitivity and pain, arthritis, pruritis Research Techniques: Mouse genetics, behavioral assays, electrophysiology, biochemistry, pharmacogenetics, molecular biology (including siRNA knockdown, in situ hybridization), immunohistochemistry, cell culture models, viral-mediated cell transformation and transduction, Electrophysiology (in vitro and in vivo), Imaging Confocal Microscopy (including in vitro and in vivo imaging). In vitro and in vivo Multiphoton imaging in DRG, TG, spinal cord, and brain. In vivo imaging of different types of cells in freely moving animals.