Investigating the involvement of hemokinin-1 in the pruritus mechanism using optogenetics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 51030:Pathophysiologic neuroscience-related
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Funahashi Hideki 宮崎大学, 医学部, 講師 (10404435)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: itch / hemokinin-1 / mouse / tachykinin / optogenetics

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the mechanism of itch, the AMPA receptor antagonist perampanel attenuates acute and chronic itch behavior (Haruta-Tsukamoto, Funahashi et.al. 2020), 5-HT3 receptor among serotonin receptors published that body and 5-HT7 receptors are associated with acute itch behavior of chloroquine and histamine in mice (Miyahara, Funahashi et.al. 2021). On the basis of these findings, we reported that the amygdala and parabrachial nucleus are involved in the control mechanism of itch by photogenetically manipulating the function of predynorphin (Funahashi, Pavlenko, Akiyama. 2023).

Free Research Field

palliative care

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

臨床的にかゆみは患者のQOLを低下させるが、決定的な治療法がなく、研究の発展や知見の積み重ねにより苦痛の緩和が強く望まれている。今回の研究ではヘモキニン-1のかゆみへの関与の解明には至らなかったが、その周辺であるAMPA受容体やセロトニン受容体、ダイノルフィン関連神経などの関与は明らかとなり、また光遺伝学による操作によって、より生体に近い形での研究手法が進展したことは、学術的にも社会的にも有益な結果であった。