The crosstalk between peripheral nerves and immune cells in the pathogenesis of pruritic skin diseases.

• Project/Area Number: 26893128
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Nakashima Chisa 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (50733573)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 皮膚 / 掻痒 / 免疫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Epidermal hyperinnervation is one commonly discussed factor underlying pruritus in the patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Overexpression of axonal guidance molecules in the epidermis has been reported to regulate epidermal hyperinnervation, which elongates the nerve fibers into the epidermis and is considered to drive the pruritic sensation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which regulates blood and lymphatic vessels development, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, VEGF-A has a neurotrophic effect, which causes profuse neutrite outgrowth of the dorsal root ganglion. To address the mechanism of pruritus in psoriasis, we used an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasiform dermatitis mouse model. Our study suggests that the upregulation of VEGF-A in the IMQ-induced psoriasiform dermatitis mouse model promotes epidermal hyperinnervation. These findings suggest that VEGF-A may be involved in the pathophysiology of pruritus in psoriasis.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Vascular endothelial growth factor induces pruritus possibly via epidermal hyperinnervation in imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice (2016)
  • Author(s): Lai San Wong MD, Atsushi Otsuka MD, PhD, Yasuo Yamamoto, Yumi Nonomura MD, Chisa Nakashima MD, PhD, Testuya Honda MD, PhD, Teruki Dainichi MD, PhD, Akihiko Kitoh MD, PhD, Saeko Nakajima MD, PhD, Satoshi Hirakawa MD, PhD , Yoshiki Miyachi MD, PhD, and Kenji Kabashima MD, PhD
  • Journal Title: Journal of Dermatological Science Volume: 83 Pages: 148-151
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Role of basophils and eosinophils in the development of pruritus (2016)
  • Author(s): Chisa Nakashima, Atsushi Otsuka, Kenji Kabashima
  • Organizer: Keystone symposia
  • Place of Presentation: Tahoe City, California, USA
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-28
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Role of basophils and eosinophils in the development of pruritus (2015)
  • Author(s): Chisa Nakashima, Atsushi Otsuka, Kenji Kabashima
  • Organizer: The 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山
  • Year and Date: 2015-12-11
  • Int'l Joint Research