The Open Pain Journal

2013, 6 : 62-80
Published online 2013 March 08. DOI: 10.2174/1876386301306010062
Publisher ID: TOPAINJ-6-62

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 TRP Channels and Pruritus

Balazs I. Toth1,2 and Tamas Bíro, *,1
1 DE-MTA “Lendület” Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, University, of Debrecen, Medi-cal and Health Science Center, Debrecen, H-4032 Hungary
2 Laboratory of Ion Channel Research and TRP Research Platform Leuven (TRPLe), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

* Address correspondence to this author at the “Lendület” Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, H-4032 Hungary; Tel: +36-52-255-575; Fax: +36-52-255-116; E-mails: , biro.tamas@med.unideb.hu

ABSTRACT

Itch (pruritus) is one of the most often seen sensory phenomena in clinical practice. Recent neurophysiological findings proposed the existence of a novel pruriceptive system which includes a multitude of pruritogenic (itch-inducing) peripheral mediators, itch-selective pruriceptors, sensory afferent networks, spinal cord neurons, and certain central nervous system regions. In this review, we first introduce major features of the pruriceptive system. We then focus on defining the roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in skin-coupled itch and provide compelling evidence that certain thermosensitive TRP channels (especially TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPV4, and TRPA1) are indeed key players in pruritus pathogenesis. Finally, we propose TRP-centered future experimental directions towards the therapeutic targeting of TRP channels in the clinical management of itch.

Keywords:

TRP Channels, Pruritus, Pruritogenic, Thermosensitive.