Rapid-kinetic peptide neurons in the brain region study the mechanism of "itch-scratching" production during itching.

On December 14th, the journal Neuron published an online paper entitled "The gray matter medium-speed peptide-positive neurons around the water pipe promote the "itch-scratching" cycle through the downward pathway, which was completed by Sun Yangang Research Group of the Institute of Neuroscience of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology, and the National Key Laboratory of Neuroscience.
by using technical means such as extracellular electrophysiological recording, in-body optical fiber recording, pharmacological genetics and optical genetic manipulation, the study found that there are a group of neurons expressing fast-stimulating peptides in the gray matter around the central brain pipe, which regulates the itching of spinal cord levels through the downstream loop to promote the production of scratching behavior.
the study reveals the cells and neural loop mechanisms of itching downward regulation, providing new ideas for the development of treatments for chronic itch.
itching is an unpleasant feeling that can cause scratching.
itching, like visual and auditory perceptions, is also the product of brain processing.
itching is an important protective mechanism for animals.
itching removes potentially harmful foreign bodies from the skin by inducing scratching.
, theitch is of great importance to the survival of animals.
however, chronic itchpatients often suffer from skin and deep tissue damage due to uncontrollable scratching behavior, which seriously affects the quality of life.
at present, people's understanding of itchinformation information processing mechanism is still very limited, so there is a lack of effective treatment for chronic itching clinically.
therefore, studying the neural mechanisms of itching information processing will help develop new strategies for treating chronic itching.
diagrams of the cell and neural loop mechanisms regulated by itching.
there is a group of neurons in the gray matter around the pipe that expresses fast-moving peptides, which regulate the itching information processing of the spinal cord level through the downstream loop, thus promoting the production of scratching behavior.
pharmacological genetics activates rapid-excited peptide neurons to induce spontaneous scratching behavior in mice.
in the field of itching, the previous people mainly explored the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itching in the skin, sensory neurons and the spinal cord.
especially over the past decade or so, many studies have revealed the mechanisms by which itching is transmitted and transmitted at the peripheral nervous system and spinal cord levels.
, by contrast, there is little research on how the brain processes itching and how to dynamically regulate itching.
early studies on itching in the brain information processing mainly in humans or primates as the research object, using brain function imaging and other technical methods for research.
previous studies have shown a strong correlation between gray matter and itching sensations around brain ducts.
in addition, the brain region also plays an important role in the downward regulation of pain.
however, the regulation of itchy ness around the central brain pipe is not clear.
therefore, Sun Yangang's research team studied the cell and neural loop mechanism of gray matter around the central brain guide pipe in the itch control with mice as the study object.
in the study, the researchers explored changes in the activity of gray matter neurons around the central brain leading pipe in the scratching behavior caused by itch, and found a strong correlation between electrical activity of neurons in the brain region and scratching behavior caused by itching. further research
confirmed the presence of a class of excitatory neurons expressing fast-moving peptides in the gray matter around the brain ducts, which kills or inhibits this group of fast-stimulating peptide neurons, which can significantly reduce itch-induced scratching behavior.
, instead, activating the gray matter speed peptide neurons around the brain guide pipe can induce strong scratching behavior without peripheral itching stimulation.
, the role of rapid-excited peptide neurons in itching is produced by regulating itch-specific gastric progenitors in the spinal cord to release peptide receptor-positive neurons.
in this study, Sun Yangang's research team revealed the mechanism by which gray matter around the brain leading pipe regulates itching information processing through the form of downward positive feedback, and found that the rapid peptide neurons in the brain region are essential for the formation of the vicious circle of itching.
, the rapid peptide neurons in the brain are the potential targets for curbing the "itch-scratching" cycle and treating chronic itching.
the study promises to change the way to address chronic itching, suggesting that intervention in the brain against neurons responsible for itching information processing may be a new way to treat chronic itching.
this work is mainly done by Sun Yangang's team of doctoral students Gao Zhengrun, Chen Wenzhen, Liu Mingzhe, other members of the group actively participated in, and by the Institute of Neurology researcher Xu Xiaohong and Guangzhou Medical University Professor Wan Li's strong assistance.
the work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771158) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Special (XDBS0100000).
Source: Institute of Neuroscience.