About this Research Topic
Although acute itch serves as an important protective mechanism, chronic itch is a debilitating condition in many diseases, leading to poor quality of life. Due to the high prevalence and poor treatment outcomes, itch has become not only an important public health problem but also an intriguing scientific question which attracts attention of scientists from multiple disciplines, especially neuroscience, dermatology, and immunology. Itch signals are initiated in the skin or mucosa, and relayed by primary sensory fibers to the spinal cord and brain. Both neuronal and non-neuronal cells are critically involved in this process. Recent studies at the cellular and neural circuit levels have dramatically advanced our understanding of itch mechanisms.
The high diversity of pruritogens, pruriceptors, and their interaction with other somatosensory modalities makes it a great challenge to decipher the mechanism of itch. Moreover, neuronal plasticity under different pathological conditions further complicates the mechanisms of itch. With more and more itch-related mediators and modulators being identified, new research related to the molecular mechanisms underlying different pathological conditions of itch, especially chronic itch is highly desired. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch will also enable us to identify novel therapeutic targets. The goal of this Research Topic is to focus on the latest findings on key molecular and cellular pathways involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of itch.
We particularly welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and Perspective articles on both acute and chronic itch. We look forward to the articles on the following topics, including, but not limited to:
• Cellular and Molecular mechanisms of itch in the skin and primary sensory neurons.
• Synaptic and circuit plasticity of itch in the spinal cord.
• Neural circuit and modulation of itch in the brain.
• Neuroglial interaction in itch.
• Molecular, cellular or circuit mechanisms underlying chronic itch.
• New drug targets and innovative itch treatment approaches.
The high diversity of pruritogens, pruriceptors, and their interaction with other somatosensory modalities makes it a great challenge to decipher the mechanism of itch. Moreover, neuronal plasticity under different pathological conditions further complicates the mechanisms of itch. With more and more itch-related mediators and modulators being identified, new research related to the molecular mechanisms underlying different pathological conditions of itch, especially chronic itch is highly desired. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch will also enable us to identify novel therapeutic targets. The goal of this Research Topic is to focus on the latest findings on key molecular and cellular pathways involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of itch.
We particularly welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and Perspective articles on both acute and chronic itch. We look forward to the articles on the following topics, including, but not limited to:
• Cellular and Molecular mechanisms of itch in the skin and primary sensory neurons.
• Synaptic and circuit plasticity of itch in the spinal cord.
• Neural circuit and modulation of itch in the brain.
• Neuroglial interaction in itch.
• Molecular, cellular or circuit mechanisms underlying chronic itch.
• New drug targets and innovative itch treatment approaches.
Keywords: Itch, Signaling pathway, Synaptic Plasticity, Neural Circuit, Inflammation, Skin, Glia
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
