1. Neural peptidase endothelin-converting enzyme 1 regulates endothelin 1-induced pruritus.
- Author
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Kido-Nakahara, Makiko, Buddenkotte, Jörg, Kempkes, Cordula, Ikoma, Akihiko, Cevikbas, Ferda, Akiyama, Tasuku, Nunes, Frank, Seeliger, Stephan, Hasdemir, Burcu, Mess, Christian, Buhl, Timo, Sulk, Mathias, Müller, Frank-Ulrich, Metze, Dieter, Bunnett, Nigel W, Bhargava, Aditi, Carstens, Earl, Furue, Masutaka, and Steinhoff, Martin
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SKIN innervation , *ANIMAL experimentation , *BIOCHEMISTRY , *CELL receptors , *CELLULAR signal transduction , *COMPARATIVE studies , *ENDOTHELINS , *SENSORY ganglia , *ITCHING , *PHENOMENOLOGY , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *MICE , *PROTEOLYTIC enzymes , *RESEARCH , *RESEARCH funding , *SKIN , *EVALUATION research , *CHEMICAL inhibitors - Abstract
In humans, pruritus (itch) is a common but poorly understood symptom in numerous skin and systemic diseases. Endothelin 1 (ET-1) evokes histamine-independent pruritus in mammals through activation of its cognate G protein-coupled receptor endothelin A receptor (ETAR). Here, we have identified neural endothelin-converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1) as a key regulator of ET-1-induced pruritus and neural signaling of itch. We show here that ETAR, ET-1, and ECE-1 are expressed and colocalize in murine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and human skin nerves. In murine DRG neurons, ET-1 induced internalization of ETAR within ECE-1-containing endosomes. ECE-1 inhibition slowed ETAR recycling yet prolonged ET-1-induced activation of ERK1/2, but not p38. In a murine itch model, ET-1-induced scratching behavior was substantially augmented by pharmacological ECE-1 inhibition and abrogated by treatment with an ERK1/2 inhibitor. Using iontophoresis, we demonstrated that ET-1 is a potent, partially histamine-independent pruritogen in humans. Immunohistochemical evaluation of skin from prurigo nodularis patients confirmed an upregulation of the ET-1/ETAR/ECE-1/ERK1/2 axis in patients with chronic itch. Together, our data identify the neural peptidase ECE-1 as a negative regulator of itch on sensory nerves by directly regulating ET-1-induced pruritus in humans and mice. Furthermore, these results implicate the ET-1/ECE-1/ERK1/2 pathway as a therapeutic target to treat pruritus in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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