The Center for the Study of Itch seeks to understand the fundamental underlying mechanisms of itch and translate these findings into treatments for patients suffering from intractable itch.
The Center for the Study of Itch seeks to understand the fundamental underlying mechanisms of itch and translate these findings into treatments for patients suffering from intractable itch.
The “itch” gene (dark spots) is expressed in a very small number of neurons in the spinal cord.
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A longitudinal section through hair follicle. MrgprB4+ fibers (red) and MrgprD+ fibers (green) encircle and penetrate the necks of hair follicles and the adjacent epidermis. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Hairs are autofluorescent.
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Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP, red), an itch-specific neurotransmitter, is not coexpressed with NF200 (green), a marker for myelinated fibers in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells.
See LargerLynn A. Cornelius, MD, chief of the Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named the Winfred A. and Emma R. Showman Professor in Dermatology.
Cornelius’ appointment was announced by Larry Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the medical school.
“Lynn is exceptional in her field and a real standout at the School of Medicine,” Shapiro says. “She is beloved by her patients and well…
Itching is one of the most prevalent side effects of powerful, pain-killing drugs like morphine, oxycodone and other opioids. The opiate-associated itch is so common that even women who get epidurals for labor pain often complain of itching. For many years, scientists have scratched their own heads about why drugs that so effectively suppress pain also induce itch.
Now in mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can control opioid-induced itching…
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has launched its new Center for the Study of Itch, believed to be the world’s first multidisciplinary program designed solely to understand and treat itch.
The center was established to bring scientists and clinicians together to conduct research on the mechanisms that transmit itch and, ultimately, to translate those findings into better treatments for chronic sufferers.
Patients with chronic itch include those with certain types of cancer and those…
Nattkemper LA, Zhao ZQ, Nichols AJ, Papoiu AD, Shively CA, Chen ZF, Yosipovitch G.
Chiang HC, Huang V, Cornelius LA. Cancer and Itch. In: Semin in Cutan Med and Surg. Editors: Arndt KA, LeBoit PE and Wintroub BU., Elsevier, 2011, 30:107-112
Jeffry J, Kim SI, and Chen ZF. (2011) Itch Signaling in the nervous system. Physiology 26(4):286-292. PMID: 21841076
