Burning Pain And Itching Governed By Same Nerve Cells

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Burning Pain And Itching Governed By Same Nerve Cells

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206777.php

We all know how hard it is not to scratch when we have an itch. But how can an

itch be alleviated? In a new study published in the prestigious journal Neuron,

researchers at Uppsala University present the surprising finding that the same

nerve cells that are active when we experience heat pain are also associated

with itching.

There are disorders and conditions that entail increased itching and can be

extremely troublesome for those suffering from it. The mechanisms behind itching

are not well understood today. For one thing, what is it about scratching that

relieves itching?

In the current study, which was performed on mice, the research team led by

Professor Klas Kullander at the Department of Neuroscience examined the nerve

cells that transfer heat pain. When these nerve cells had lost its capacity to

signal, the mice reacted less to heat, as expected, but surprisingly they also

started to itch incessantly.

" These findings link together pain from a burn with regulating sensitivity to

itching, which was highly surprising and interesting, " says Klas Kullander.

Extreme itching is very unpleasant and difficult to treat. For example, it is a

common complication following operations and burns. Eczema and other skin

disorders can also lead to general itchiness. Greater knowledge of the

underlying factors paves the way for developing new forms of treatment for

itching, for example, activating pain fibers to reduce itching, which is

supported by these findings.

" In the long run, and with the help of more research, we will hopefully be able

to fully elucidate what nerve fibers conduct the itching itself, and then we

will be able to extinguish the itch at the source, " says Klas Kullander.

Sources: Uppsala Universitet, AlphaGalileo Foundation.