A single dose of interleukin-31 (IL-31) causes continuous itch-associated scratching behaviour in mice.
We investigated the effects of a single dose of mouse interleukin-31 (IL-31) on scratching behaviour in comparison with spontaneous skin-lesion- or serotonin (5-HT)- induced scratching behaviour in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice. Intradermal (i.d.) injection of IL-31 caused a gradual increase in long-lasting scratching (LLS, over 1.5 s) about 3 h after administration followed by a gradual decrease for over 24 h after administration. I.d. injection of IL-31 significantly increased the total LLS counts/24 h but not short-lasting scratching (SLS, 0.3-1.5 s). In skin-lesioned NC/Nga mice, the LLS but not SLS counts were significantly higher than those in non-skin-lesioned NC/Nga mice. We also investigated 5-HT-induced scratching in BALB/c mice, SLS but not LLS increased immediately after the injection and then decreased to baseline after at 20 min. These results suggest that IL-31 may participate in the sensation of itching and promote scratching behaviour in skin-lesioned NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD).
Division of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare, Ohtawara, Japan; Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of DNA medicine, Jikei University, Tokyo, Japan.
Iwao
I
Arai
Minoru
M
Tsuji
Hiroshi
H
Takeda
Nobutake
N
Akiyama
Saburo
S
Saito
D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007378:Interleukins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007378:Interleukins; C502588:interleukin-31, mouse; D012701:Serotonin
IL-31; itch; pruritogen; scratch; serotonin