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Tissue Preparation and Immunostaining of Mouse Sensory Nerve Fibers Innervating Skin and Limb Bones
Published on: January 26, 2012
Scratching behavior does not necessarily correlate with epidermal nerve fiber sprouting or inflammatory cell
Makiko Kido1, Satoshi Takeuchi, Hitokazu Esaki
1Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Journal of Dermatological Science
|April 20, 2010
Summary
Scratching in dermatitis may not correlate with nerve sprouting. Tacrolimus (FK) reduced scratching, but MEK inhibitor (CX) and corticosteroids (BV) did not, despite inhibiting nerve growth and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Persistent pruritus in chronic dermatitis is linked to epidermal nerve fiber sprouting.
- Tacrolimus (FK506) inhibits nerve sprouting and scratching in mice.
- Atopic dermatitis and prurigo patients show increased nerve sprouting in lesional skin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-pruritic potential of a MEK1/2 inhibitor (CX-659S) in vivo.
- MEK1/2 inhibitors are known to inhibit neurite growth in vitro.
Main Methods:
- A mouse model of chronic dermatitis was induced using repetitive hapten painting.
- Topical application of tacrolimus (FK), CX-659S (CX), and betamethasone valerate (BV) was performed.
- Anti-pruritic effects were assessed by measuring scratching behavior (MicroAct system).
- Anti-inflammatory effects and epidermal nerve sprouting were evaluated histologically.
Main Results:
- Tacrolimus (FK) significantly reduced scratching behavior.
- CX-659S (CX) and betamethasone valerate (BV) did not decrease scratching.
- CX and BV inhibited epidermal nerve fiber sprouting and skin inflammation, respectively.
- A combination of CX and BV synergistically inhibited nerve sprouting and inflammation more than FK, without reducing scratching.
Conclusions:
- Scratching behavior in dermatitis may not directly correlate with epidermal nerve fiber sprouting.
- Inflammatory cell infiltration is also not necessarily linked to scratching behavior.
- The study highlights a potential dissociation between nerve changes, inflammation, and pruritus.
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