Repeated administration of IL-31 upregulates IL-31 receptor A (IL-31RA) in dorsal root ganglia and causes severe itch-associated scratching behaviour in mice.
We investigated the effects of repeated administration of interleukin-31 (IL-31) on itch-associated scratching counts (long-lasting scratching, LLS) and IL-31-related receptor mRNA expression in mice. Intra-dermal (i.d.) injection of IL-31 (100 and 300 ng/site) every 12 h for 3 days significantly increased LLS. Repeated administration of IL-31 also increased the expression of IL-31 receptor A (IL-31RA) and oncostatin M receptor beta (OSMRβ) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). After the repeated administration of IL-31 was discontinued, IL-31RA expression decreased and reached the baseline level 2 days after the last dose of IL-31. LLS changed along with DRG IL-31RA expression. Moreover, IL-31-induced IL-31RA protein expression was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. These data suggest that IL-31 upregulates IL-31RA expression in DRG neuron cell bodies, and cutaneous-injected IL-31-induced itching is enhanced by DRG IL-31RA expression in mice.
Department of Pharmacology, International University of Health and Welfare, Ohtawara, Tochigi, Japan; Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Iwao
I
Arai
Minoru
M
Tsuji
Kazuya
K
Miyagawa
Hiroshi
H
Takeda
Nobutake
N
Akiyama
Saburo
S
Saito
D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D053677:Receptors, Oncostatin M / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018076:DNA, Complementary; C488159:Il31ra protein, mouse; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053677:Receptors, Oncostatin M; C502588:interleukin-31, mouse
IL-31 receptor A (IL-31RA); dorsal root ganglia (DRG); interleukin-31 (IL-31); itch; scratch