The underlying mechanisms of itch are poorly understood. We have investigated a model involving the chemoattractant leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) that is up-regulated in common skin diseases. Intradermal injection of LTB(4) (0.1 nmol/site) into female CD1 mice induced significant scratching movements (used as an itch index) compared with vehicle-injected (0.1% bovine serum albumin-saline) mice. Intraperitoneal transient receptor potential (TRP) channel antagonist treatment significantly inhibited itch as follows: TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonist SB366791 (0.5 mg/kg, by 97%) and the TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) antagonists TCS 5861528 (10 mg/kg; 82%) and HC-030031 (100 mg/kg; 76%). Leukotriene B(4) receptor 2 antagonism by LY255283 (5 mg/kg i.p.; 62%) reduced itch. Neither TRPV1-knockout (TRPV1-KO) nor TRPA1-knockout (TRPA1-KO mice exhibited LTB(4)-induced itch compared with their wild-type counterparts. The reactive oxygen species scavengers N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 204 mg/kg i.p.; 86%) or superoxide dismutase (SOD; 10 mg/kg i.p.; 83%) also inhibited itch. LTB(4)-induced superoxide release was attenuated by TCS 5861528 (56%) and HC-030031 (66%), NAC (58%), SOD (50%), and LY255283 (59%) but not by the leukotriene B(4) receptor 1 antagonist U-75302 (9 nmol/site) or SB366791. Itch, superoxide, and myeloperoxidase generation were inhibited by the leukocyte migration inhibitor fucoidan (10 mg/kg i.v.) by 80, 61, and 34%, respectively. Myeloperoxidase activity was also reduced by SB366791 (35%) and SOD (28%). TRPV1-KO mice showed impaired myeloperoxidase release, whereas TRPA1-KO mice exhibited diminished production of superoxide. This result provides novel evidence that TRPA1 and TRPV1 contribute to itch via distinct mechanisms.-Fernandes, E. S., Vong, C. T., Quek, S., Cheong, J., Awal, S., Gentry, C., Aubdool, A. A., Liang, L., Bodkin, J.V., Bevan, S., Heads, R., Brain, S.D. Superoxide generation and leukocyte accumulation: key elements in the mediation of leukotriene B(4)-induced itch by transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1.

PMID: 23271050

Persistent pruritus is a common disabling dermatologic symptom associated with different etiologic factors. These include primary skin conditions, as well as neuropathic, psychogenic or systemic disorders like chronic liver disease. Defective clearance of potential pruritogenic substances that activate itch-specific neurons innervating the skin is thought to contribute to cholestatic pruritus. However, because the underlying disease-specific pruritogens and itch-specific neuronal pathways and mechanism(s) are unknown, symptomatic therapeutic intervention often leads to no or only limited success. In the current study, we aimed to first validate rats with bile duct ligation (BDL) as a model for hepatic pruritus, and then to evaluate the contribution of inflammation, peripheral neuronal sensitization, and specific signaling pathways and subpopulations of itch-responsive neurons to scratching behavior and thermal hypersensitivity. Chronic BDL rats displayed enhanced scratching behavior and thermal hyperalgesia indicative of peripheral neuroinflammation. BDL-induced itch and hypersensitivity involved a minor contribution of histaminergic/serotonergic receptors, but significant activation of PAR(2) receptors, prostaglandin PGE(2) formation and potentiation of TRPV1 channel activity. The sensitization of DRG nociceptors in BDL rats was associated with increased surface expression of PAR(2) and TRPV1 proteins and an increase in the number of PAR(2)- and TRPV1-expressing peptidergic neurons together with a shift of TRPV1 receptor expression to medium-sized DRG neurons. These results suggest that pruritus and hyperalgesia in chronic cholestatic BDL rats are associated with neuroinflammation and involves PAR(2)-induced TRPV1 sensitization. Thus, pharmacological modulation of PAR(2) and/or TRPV1 may be a valuable therapeutic approach for patients with chronic liver pruritus refractory to conventional treatments.

Mrgprd enhances excitability in specific populations of cutaneous murine polymodal nociceptors.