Two skin cells of a mouse show the flow of calcium into the cell in response to a dose of histamine (lower panel). Duke researchers have shown that an ion channel called TRPV4 is the beginning of a chain of messages that ends up signaling “itch” to the brain. Credit: Yong Chen, Duke University
A potential drug target for itching sensations has been developed by researchers. Their work shows that skin cells – when exposed to certain itch-producing chemicals – can powerfully regulate nearby sensory nerve cells and facilitate transmission of the itchy feelings to the brain. The ion channel TRPV4 functions in skin cells as a pivotal switch in this newly revealed signaling pathway. Prof. Wolfgang Liedtke, M.D., Ph...
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