Exploring Pruritus in Bullous Pemphigoid: Analysis of QOL Metrics and Potential Biological Mechanisms.

Bullous pemphigoid is a devastating autoimmune blistering disease with need for improved therapeutics. Limited data are available on the overall burden of pruritus and alterations over time; however, treatment of itch-specific pathways may provide novel therapeutics. In this paper, we analyzed the QOL impact particularly related to itch and determined corresponding changes in intraepidermal nerve fiber density and gene expression.

MrgprC11 sensory neurons mediate glabrous skin itch.

Itch arising from glabrous skin (palms and soles) has attracted limited attention within the field due to the lack of methodology. This is despite glabrous itch arising from many medical conditions such as plantar and palmar psoriasis, dyshidrosis, and cholestasis. Therefore, we developed a mouse glabrous skin behavioral assay to investigate the contribution of three previously identified pruriceptive neurons in glabrous skin itch.

Visualizing the Itch-Sensing Skin Arbors.

Diverse sensory neurons exhibit distinct neuronal morphologies with a variety of axon terminal arborizations subserving their functions. Because of its clinical significance, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch are being intensely studied. However, a complete analysis of itch-sensing terminal arborization is missing.

Molecular Signature of Pruriceptive MrgprA3 Neurons.

Itch, initiated by the activation of sensory neurons, is associated frequently with dermatological diseases. MrgprA3 sensory neurons have been identified as one of the major itch-sensing neuronal populations. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that peripheral pathological conditions induce physiological regulation of sensory neurons, which is critical for the maintenance of chronic itch sensation.