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Neuroscientists explored the relationship between itching sensations and painful feelings

Nov. 8, 2017

To better understand itch and pain pathways as well as their interrelationships, neuroscientists from North Carolina State University studied whether the “gatekeeper” in itching sensations, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), plays a role in pain transmission. BNP is the essential neurotransmitter, expressed in many sensory nerve cells and neurons, responsible for transmitting signals from the skin to the central nervous system.

By using a BNP knockout mice model, the researchers found that BNP is not involved in regulating acute, inflammatory, or neuropathic pain in this mice model. These suggest that pain and itch sensations are not governed by the same pathways, and BNP is only involved in itch pathways. Itching sensations are commonly experienced in our everyday lives, however, a relatively new field for researchers to study. Thus, a deeper understanding on how to interrupt itch signals is necessary to develop better treatment for itching.

Saumitra Pitake et al.Brain natriuretic peptide-expressing sensory neurons are not involved in acute, inflammatory, or neuropathic pain. Molecular Pain (2017).
DOI: 10.1177/1744806917736993