Activity-dependent silencing reveals functionally distinct itch-generating sensory neurons

Nat Neurosci. 2013 Jul;16(7):910-8. doi: 10.1038/nn.3404. Epub 2013 May 19.

Abstract

The peripheral terminals of primary sensory neurons detect histamine and non-histamine itch-provoking ligands through molecularly distinct transduction mechanisms. It remains unclear, however, whether these distinct pruritogens activate the same or different afferent fibers. Using a strategy of reversibly silencing specific subsets of murine pruritogen-sensitive sensory axons by targeted delivery of a charged sodium-channel blocker, we found that functional blockade of histamine itch did not affect the itch evoked by chloroquine or SLIGRL-NH2, and vice versa. Notably, blocking itch-generating fibers did not reduce pain-associated behavior. However, silencing TRPV1(+) or TRPA1(+) neurons allowed allyl isothiocyanate or capsaicin, respectively, to evoke itch, implying that certain peripheral afferents may normally indirectly inhibit algogens from eliciting itch. These findings support the presence of functionally distinct sets of itch-generating neurons and suggest that targeted silencing of activated sensory fibers may represent a clinically useful anti-pruritic therapeutic approach for histaminergic and non-histaminergic pruritus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Anesthetics, Local / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antipruritics / adverse effects
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Interactions
  • Ganglia, Spinal / cytology
  • Histamine / toxicity
  • Histamine Agonists / toxicity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pruritus / chemically induced
  • Pruritus / classification
  • Pruritus / drug therapy
  • Pruritus / pathology*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / classification*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / drug effects
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology*
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Time Factors
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / cytology

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Antipruritics
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Histamine Agonists
  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Histamine