Molecular mechanisms of pruritus in dry skin conditions = Molecular mechanisms of pruritus in dry skin conditions

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

We all take it for granted that dry skin causes itch, but it is surprisingly unclear how dry skin evokes the unpleasant sensation. The underlying mechanism of itch was once thought to be mainly mediated by histamine, an endogenous itch-inducing agent (pruritogen) released from the mast cell.
Once histamine is released from the mast cell, it binds to the histamine receptor, leading to the activation ion channel in the sensory neurons to relay the itch signal. Indeed, antihistamine agents are based on this mechanism, which interferes with the binding of histamine to its receptors. However, antihistamines are not fully effective in many diseases characterized by dry skin, implying the symptom may rely on histamine-independent mechanisms.
Fortunately, animal models for dry skin, which is achieved by applying a mixture of acetone and ether followed by water (AEW), significantly helped researchers to reveal underlying mechanisms related to the symptom. It was found that sensory neurons, keratinocytes, and spinal cords in AEW mice undergo significant changes at molecular levels. The present talk will summarize findings related to pruritus in dry skin conditions.