Common protein in skin can 'turn on' allergic itch

Itch sensations are transmitted from neuronal projections in the skin through the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) -- which are clusters of sensory cells located at the root of the spinal nerves -- then to the spinal cord.

"We have found that periostin, a protein that is produced abundantly in skin as part of an allergic response, can interact directly with sensory neurons in the skin, effectively turning on the itch response," says Santosh Mishra, assistant professor of neuroscience at NC State and lead author of a paper on the work. "Additionally, we identified the neuronal receptor that is the initial connection between periostin and itch response."

Mishra and a team including colleagues from NC State, Wake Forest University and Duke University identified a receptor protein called αvβ3, which is expressed on sensory neurons in skin, as the periostin receptor.

In a chemically-induced mouse model of atopic dermatitis, the team found that exposure to common allergens such as dust mites increased periostin production in skin, exacerbating the itch response. However, when the researchers "turned off" the receptor protein, itch was significantly reduced.

"Periostin and its receptor connect the skin directly to the central nervous system," Mishra says. "We have identified the first junction in the itch pathway associated with eczema. If we can break that connection, we can relieve the itch."

The research appears in Cell Reports, and was funded by NC State's startup fund. Mishra is both first and corresponding author of the work.