Publications

@article{Choi2020,

title = {Crotamiton, an Anti-Scabies Agent, Suppresses Histamine- and Chloroquine-Induced Itch Pathways in Sensory Neurons and Alleviates Scratching in Mice},

author = {Da-Som Choi and Yeounjung Ji and Yongwoo Jang and Wook-Joo Lee and Won-Sik Shim},

doi = {10.4062/biomolther.2020.063},

issn = {2005-4483},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-11-01},

urldate = {2020-11-01},

journal = {Biomolecules & Therapeutics},

volume = {28},

number = {6},

pages = {569--575},

publisher = {The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology},

abstract = {Crotamiton is an anti-scabies drug, but it was recently found that crotamiton also suppresses non-scabietic itching in mice. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unclear. Therefore, aim of the study is to investigate mechanisms of the anti-pruritic effect of crotamiton for non-scabietic itching. Histamine and chloroquine are used as non-scabietic pruritogens. The effect of crotamiton was identified using fluorometric intracellular calcium assays in HEK293T cells and primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Further in vivo effect was evaluated by scratching behavior tests. Crotamiton strongly inhibited histamine-induced calcium influx in HEK293T cells, expressing both histamine receptor 1 (H1R) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), as a model of histamine-induced itching. Similarly, it also blocked chloroquine-induced calcium influx in HEK293T cells, expressing both Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor A3 (MRGPRA3) and transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1), as a model of histamine-independent itching. Furthermore, crotamiton also suppressed both histamine- and chloroquine-induced calcium influx in primary cultures of mouse DRG. Additionally, crotamiton strongly suppressed histamine- and chloroquine-induced scratching in mice. Overall, it was found that crotamiton has an anti-pruritic effect against non-scabietic itching by histamine and chloroquine. Therefore, crotamiton may be used as a general anti-pruritic agent, irrespective of the presence of scabies.},

keywords = {Calcium imaging, Chloroquine, H1R, Histamine, Itch, MrgprA3, TRPA1, TRPV1},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ji2018,

title = {Different perception levels of histamine-induced itch sensation in young adult mice},

author = {Yeounjung Ji and Yongwoo Jang and Wook Joo Lee and Young Duk Yang and Won-Sik Shim},

doi = {10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.015},

issn = {0031-9384},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-05-00},

urldate = {2018-05-00},

journal = {Physiology & Behavior},

volume = {188},

pages = {188--193},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {Itch is an unpleasant sensation that evokes behavioral responses such as scratching the skin. Interestingly, it isconceived that the perception of itch sensation is influenced by age. Indeed, accumulating evidence supports theidea that even children or younger adults show distinctive itch sensation depending on age. This evidence implies the presence of a mechanism that regulates the perception of itch sensation in an age-dependent fashion. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate a putative mechanism for the age-dependent perception of itch sensation by comparing histamine-induced scratching behaviors in 45-day old (D45) and 75-day old male “young adult” mice. The results indicated that, following histamine administration, the D75 mice spent a longer time scratching than D45 mice. However, the intensity of the calcium influx induced by histamine in primary culture of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons was not different between D45 and D75 mice. Moreover, no apparent difference was observed in mRNA levels of a characteristic His-related receptor and ion channel. Incontrast, the mRNA levels of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) were increased approximately by two-fold in D75 DRG compared with D45 DRG. Additionally, D75-derived DRG neurons exhibited enhanced intracellular calcium increase by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a TLR4 agonist) than those of D45 mice. Furthermore, intensities of calciuminflux induced by histamine were significantly potentiated when co-treated with LPS in D75 DRG neurons, butnot in those of D45 mice. Thus, it appears that D75 mice showed enhanced histamine-induced scratching behaviors not by increased expression levels of histamine-related genes, but probably due to augmented TLR4},

keywords = {Dorsal root ganglia, H1R, Histamine, Itch, Scratching behavior, TLR4, TRPV1},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}