Itch suppression in mice and dogs by modulation of spinal α2 and α3GABA_A receptors.

ABSTRACT: Chronic itch is a highly debilitating condition affecting about 10% of the general population. The relay of itch signals is under tight control by inhibitory circuits of the spinal dorsal horn, which may offer a hitherto unexploited therapeutic opportunity. Here, we found that specific pharmacological targeting of inhibitory α2 and α3GABA_A receptors reduces acute histaminergic and non-histaminergic itch in mice. Systemic treatment with an α2/α3GABA_A receptor selective modulator alleviates also chronic itch in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis and in dogs sensitized to house dust mites, without inducing sedation, motor dysfunction, or loss of antipruritic activity after prolonged treatment. Transsynaptic circuit tracing, immunofluorescence, and electrophysiological ex

SUBMITTER: Ralvenius WT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6089996 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature