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Researchers Have Identified the Gene Behind Itch Sensation
The discovery of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) gene in the central nervous system may lead to new therapies to directly target itchiness and provide relief for chronic and severe itching.
The GRPR gene codes for a receptor found in a very small population of spinal cord nerve cells where pain and itch signals are transmitted from the skin to the brain.
Led by Dr. Zhou-Feng Chen, the researchers gave itchy stimuli to mice. They found that rodents who lacked GRPR scratched much less than their normal cage-mates.
Chronic itching is a widespread problem, for which effective treatment options are limited. It can be caused by skin disorders like eczema or from a deeper problem like kidney failure or liver disease. It can be a serious side effect of cancer therapies or powerful painkillers like morphine.
Historically, scientists regarded itch as just a less intense version of the pain sensation, which is why research on itching has been somewhat neglected. Even Dr. Chen's team became interested in the GRPR gene because they had been looking for genes in the pain pathway.
Among potential pain-sensing genes that the researchers identified, GRPR got their special attention because it is present in only a few nerve cells in the spinal cord, which is know to relay pain and itch signals to the brain.
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