Chronic itch is a presenting sign in numerous diseases associated with the skin, the immune, and the nervous systems. Chronic itch is largely resistant to conventional antihistamines, and few effective therapies are available. In order to develop novel therapeutics against chronic itch, there is a pressing need for identification of itc-specific signaling molecules involved. We have recently uncovered a small subset of itch-specific neurons which express gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), an itch receptor, in the spinal cord. GRPR+ neurons are required for pruritoceptive but not for nociceptive transmission, indicating that they contain a myriad of itch-specific genes. To facilitate the identification of novel itch genes in GRPR+ neurons, we design a novel strategy that combines a genome-wide profiling of gene expression in GRPR+ neurons with functional screening, including behavioral tests and Ca2+ imaging. Gene expression profiles between the superficial laminae with normal GRPR+ neurons and without are compared. This strategy enables us to search for the genes that are expressed in GRPR+ neurons and are functionally required for mediating nonhistaminergic itch. Three sets of experiments will be performed to test the key hypothesis that there are distinct signaling signatures for histaminergic and nonhistaminergic itch in the spinal cord. First, genome-wide profiling of gene expression in GRPR+ neurons by microarray, qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization studies will be performed. The candidate genes expressed in GRPR+ neurons will be identified. Second, the involvement of the candidate genes in acute and chronic itch will be evaluated using a siRNA knockdown approach, and the key genes for mediating nonhistaminergic itch in acute or chronic itch will be identified. Third, the relationship between the candidate genes and GRPR will be determined by examining whether the knockdown of the gene would impair intrathecal GRP-evoked scratching and would further impact scratching behavior of GRPR mutant mice. In addition, whether the candidate genes are involved in GRPR-dependent Ca2+ signaling will be examined in a heterologous system using siRNA knockdown and Ca2+ imaging. The proposed studies are highly translational because the itch mediators are identified directly from chronic itch models, and likely to be itch-specific. Our proposed studies will significantly expand the pool of the targets that may be explored for future drug discovery program.

Public Health Relevance

Chronic itch is a major unmet medical problem which remains poorly understood. We will identify itch genes required for mediating chronic itch using a combination of genome-wide screening approach and chronic itch models. Our proposed studies will discover potential drug targets and may provide a basis for designing a better strategy for chronic itch management.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
High Priority, Short Term Project Award (R56)
Project #
5R56AR064294-02
Application #
8933947
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
2014-09-15
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Barry, Devin M; Munanairi, Admire; Chen, Zhou-Feng (2018) Spinal Mechanisms of Itch Transmission. Neurosci Bull 34:156-164
Munanairi, Admire; Liu, Xian-Yu; Barry, Devin M et al. (2018) Non-canonical Opioid Signaling Inhibits Itch Transmission in the Spinal Cord of Mice. Cell Rep 23:866-877
Wan, Li; Jin, Hua; Liu, Xian-Yu et al. (2017) Distinct roles of NMB and GRP in itch transmission. Sci Rep 7:15466
Oetjen, Landon K; Mack, Madison R; Feng, Jing et al. (2017) Sensory Neurons Co-opt Classical Immune Signaling Pathways to Mediate Chronic Itch. Cell 171:217-228.e13
Yu, Yao-Qing; Barry, Devin M; Hao, Yan et al. (2017) Molecular and neural basis of contagious itch behavior in mice. Science 355:1072-1076