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Papers of the Week


Papers: 14 Mar 2020 - 20 Mar 2020


Animal Studies

PAIN TYPE:
Itch


2020 Mar 13


Nat Commun


11


1

Editor's Pick

Exploration of sensory and spinal neurons expressing gastrin-releasing peptide in itch and pain related behaviors.

Authors

Barry DM, Liu X-T, Liu B, Liu X-Y, Gao F, Zeng X, Liu J, Yang Q, Wilhelm S, Yin J, Tao A, Chen Z-F
Nat Commun. 2020 Mar 13; 11(1):1397.
PMID: 32170060.

Abstract

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) functions as a neurotransmitter for non-histaminergic itch, but its site of action (sensory neurons vs spinal cord) remains controversial. To determine the role of GRP in sensory neurons, we generated a floxed Grp mouse line. We found that conditional knockout of Grp in sensory neurons results in attenuated non-histaminergic itch, without impairing histamine-induced itch. Using a Grp-Cre knock-in mouse line, we show that the upper epidermis of the skin is exclusively innervated by GRP fibers, whose activation via optogeneics and chemogenetics in the skin evokes itch- but not pain-related scratching or wiping behaviors. In contrast, intersectional genetic ablation of spinal Grp neurons does not affect itch nor pain transmission, demonstrating that spinal Grp neurons are dispensable for itch transmission. These data indicate that GRP is a neuropeptide in sensory neurons for non-histaminergic itch, and GRP sensory neurons are dedicated to itch transmission.