Itching for insight.
The itch sensation results from the excitation of primary sensory nerve endings in the skin, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Liu et al. (2009) now report that some members of the Mrgpr class of G protein-coupled receptors mediate the itch caused by the antimalarial drug chloroquine.
Bandell
Michael
M
Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Patapoutian
Ardem
A
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation
D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine