A spinal neural circuitry for converting touch to itch sensation

Sihan Chen, Xiao-Fei Gao, Yuxi Zhou, Ben-Long Liu, Xian-Yu Liu, Yufen Zhang, Devin M. Barry, Kun Liu, Yingfu Jiao, Rita Bardoni, Weifeng Yu () and Zhou-Feng Chen ()
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Sihan Chen: Washington University School of Medicine
Xiao-Fei Gao: Washington University School of Medicine
Yuxi Zhou: Washington University School of Medicine
Ben-Long Liu: Washington University School of Medicine
Xian-Yu Liu: Washington University School of Medicine
Yufen Zhang: Washington University School of Medicine
Devin M. Barry: Washington University School of Medicine
Kun Liu: Washington University School of Medicine
Yingfu Jiao: Shanghai Jiaotong University
Rita Bardoni: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Weifeng Yu: Shanghai Jiaotong University
Zhou-Feng Chen: Washington University School of Medicine

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Touch and itch sensations are crucial for evoking defensive and emotional responses, and light tactile touch may induce unpleasant itch sensations (mechanical itch or alloknesis). The neural substrate for touch-to-itch conversion in the spinal cord remains elusive. We report that spinal interneurons expressing Tachykinin 2-Cre (Tac2Cre) receive direct Aβ low threshold mechanoreceptor (LTMR) input and form monosynaptic connections with GRPR neurons. Ablation or inhibition markedly reduces mechanical but not acute chemical itch nor noxious touch information. Chemogenetic inhibition of Tac2Cre neurons also displays pronounced deficit in chronic dry skin itch, a type of chemical itch in mice. Consistently, ablation of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) neurons, which are essential for transmitting chemical itch, also abolishes mechanical itch. Together, these results suggest that innocuous touch and chemical itch information converge on GRPR neurons and thus map an exquisite spinal circuitry hard-wired for converting innocuous touch to irritating itch.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18895-7

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