Spinal somatostatin-positive interneurons transmit chemical itch

Pain. 2019 May;160(5):1166-1174. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001499.

Abstract

Recent studies have made significant progress in identifying distinct populations of peripheral neurons involved in itch transmission, whereas the cellular identity of spinal interneurons that contribute to itch processing is still a debate. Combining genetic and pharmacological ablation of spinal excitatory neuronal subtypes and behavioral assays, we demonstrate that spinal somatostatin-positive (SOM) excitatory interneurons transmit pruritic sensation. We found that the ablation of spinal SOM/Lbx1 (SOM) neurons caused significant attenuation of scratching responses evoked by various chemical pruritogens (chemical itch). In an attempt to identify substrates of spinal itch neural circuit, we observed that spinal SOM neurons partially overlapped with neurons expressing natriuretic peptide receptor A (Npra), the receptor of peripheral itch transmitter B-type natriuretic peptide. Spinal SOM neurons, however, did not show any overlap with itch transmission neurons expressing gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in the dorsal spinal cord, and the gastrin-releasing peptide-triggered scratching responses were intact after ablating spinal SOM neurons. Dual ablation of SOM and Npra neurons in the spinal cord reduced chemical itch responses to a greater extent than ablation of SOM or Npra neurons alone, suggesting the existence of parallel spinal pathways transmitting chemical itch. Furthermore, we showed that SOM peptide modulated itch processing through disinhibition of somatostatin receptor 2A-positive inhibitory interneuron. Together, our findings reveal a novel spinal mechanism for sensory encoding of itch perception.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / genetics
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Chloroquine / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interneurons / metabolism*
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Nitrobenzoates / pharmacology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Pruritus / chemically induced*
  • Pruritus / pathology*
  • Somatostatin / genetics
  • Somatostatin / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / toxicity
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Lbx1h protein, mouse
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Nitrobenzoates
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • tau Proteins
  • 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid
  • p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
  • Somatostatin
  • Chloroquine
  • biocytin
  • Lysine