The neurobiology of itch.
The neurobiology of itch, which is formally known as pruritus, and its interaction with pain have been illustrated by the complexity of specific mediators, itch-related neuronal pathways and the central processing of itch. Scratch-induced pain can abolish itch, and analgesic opioids can generate itch, which indicates an antagonistic interaction. However, recent data suggest that there is a broad overlap between pain- and itch-related peripheral mediators and/or receptors, and there are astonishingly similar mechanisms of neuronal sensitization in the PNS and the CNS. The antagonistic interaction between pain and itch is already exploited in pruritus therapy, and current research concentrates on the identification of common targets for future analgesic and antipruritic therapy.
Ikoma
Akihiko
A
Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University, Shogin-Kawahara-cho 54, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Steinhoff
Martin
M
Ständer
Sonja
S
Yosipovitch
Gil
G
Schmelz
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059408:Pain Management; D011537:Pruritus / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*