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Scratching the surface: a role of pain-sensing TRPA1 in itch

Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 540–542 (2011)Cite this article

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The molecular mechanisms of itch, particularly histamine-independent itch, are unclear. Wilson et al. report that TRPA1, an ion channel critical for pain sensation, also functions as an essential component of itch transduction.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of key molecules and peripheral somatosensory neurons involved in distinct sensations of pain and itch.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bailong Xiao and Ardem Patapoutian are in the Department of Cell Biology and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA,

    Bailong Xiao

  2. Ardem Patapoutian is also at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, USA.,

    Ardem Patapoutian

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  1. Bailong Xiao
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  2. Ardem Patapoutian
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Correspondence to Ardem Patapoutian.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Xiao, B., Patapoutian, A. Scratching the surface: a role of pain-sensing TRPA1 in itch. Nat Neurosci 14, 540–542 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2813

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