title: Trp channels and itch.
abstract: Itch is a unique sensation associated with the scratch reflex. Although the scratch reflex plays a protective role in daily life by removing irritants, chronic itch remains a clinical challenge. Despite urgent clinical need, itch has received relatively little research attention and its mechanisms have remained poorly understood until recently. The goal of the present review is to summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of acute as well as chronic itch and classifications of the primary itch populations in relationship to transient receptor potential (Trp) channels, which play pivotal roles in multiple somatosensations. The convergent involvement of Trp channels in diverse itch signaling pathways suggests that Trp channels may serve as promising targets for chronic itch treatments.
authors.affiliation: The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Shuohao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. xdong2@jhmi.edu.|Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. xdong2@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Xinzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels
keywords: DRG neurons; GPCR; Itch; Skin; Trp channel