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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
Published on: September 27, 2019
Emerging role of interleukin-31 and interleukin-31 receptor in pruritus in atopic dermatitis
M Furue1,2, K Yamamura1, M Kido-Nakahara1
1Department of Dermatology and Division of Skin Surface Sensing, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic or chronically relapsing, eczematous, severely pruritic skin disorder associated with skin barrier dysfunction. The lesional skin of AD exhibits T helper 2 (TH 2)-deviated immune reactions. Interleukin-31 (IL-31), preferentially produced from TH 2 cells, is a potent pruritogenic cytokine, and its systemic and local administration induces scratching behavior in rodents, dogs and monkeys. Recent clinical trials have revealed that administration of an anti-IL-31 receptor antibody significantly alleviates pruritus in patients with AD. In this review, we summarize recent topics related to IL-31 and its receptor with special references to atopic itch.

