Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Itch is as an unpleasant sensation that is considered as unique, although many similarities to pain exist. Itch is a cardinal symptom in skin diseases like atopic dermatitis or urticaria, but itch is also frequently observed in the general population. Often itch is associated with a decrease in quality of life. Additionally associations between itch and psychological variables like psychological stress, the emotional state and personality factors are shown. In experimental studies itch can be induced not only by the use of pruritogens (e.g. histamine), but also by the presentation of audiovisual stimuli. Because of these factors a biopsychosocial model is postulated regarding the occurrence of itch. In addition to medical treatments, psychological interventions like habit-reversal training or relaxation techniques are used to successfully treat itch. These interventions have positive effects, not only on the psychological well-being, but also on the skin status of patients.
 ...
PMID:[Itch and psyche]. 2376 May 41

The intimate interaction between mast cells and sensory nerves can be illustrated by the wheal and surrounding flare in an urticarial reaction in human skin. This reaction is typically associated with an intense itch at the reaction site. Upon activation, cutaneous mast cells release powerful mediators, such as histamine, tryptase, cytokines, and growth factors that can directly stimulate corresponding receptors on itch-mediating sensory nerves. These include, e.g., H1- and H4-receptors, protease-activated receptor-2, IL-31 receptor, and the high-affinity receptor of nerve growth factor (TrkA). On the other hand, sensory nerves can release neuropeptides, including substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide, that are able to stimulate mast cells to release mediators leading to potentiation of the reciprocal interaction, inflammation, and itch. Even though mast cells are well recognized for their role in allergic skin whealing and urticaria, increasing evidence supports the reciprocal function between mast cells and sensory nerves in neurogenic inflammation in chronic skin diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, which are often characterized by distressing itch, and exacerbated by psychological stress. Increased morphological contacts between mast cells and sensory nerves in the lesional skin in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis as well as experimental models in mice and rats support the essential role for mast cell-sensory nerve communication in consequent pruritus. Therefore, we summarize here the present literature pointing to a close association between mast cells and sensory nerves in pruritic skin diseases as well as review the essential supporting findings on pruritic models in mice and rats.
 ...
PMID:Mast Cells and Sensory Nerves Contribute to Neurogenic Inflammation and Pruritus in Chronic Skin Inflammation. 3161 65


<< Previous 1 2