Advances in understanding itching and scratching: a new era of targeted treatments.
Chronic itch is a significant health burden with few effective treatments. As such, itch researchers seek to understand the mechanisms behind itch and to find potential targets for treatment. The field of itch research is dynamic, and many advances have been made so far this decade. In particular, major steps forward include the identification of new peripheral and central itch mediators and modulators, the discovery of greater roles for immune cells and glia in itch transmission, and a focus on the brain processing of itching and scratching. Finally, several new therapeutic interventions for itch have shown success in clinical trials.
Department of Dermatology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
Kristen M
KM
Sanders
Department of Dermatology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
Leigh A
LA
Nattkemper
Department of Dermatology and Itch Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Gil
G
Yosipovitch
Gastrin-releasing peptide; Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor A3; Pruritus; astrogliosis