%0 Journal Article
%T Interleukin-31-mediated photoablation of pruritogenic epidermal neurons reduces itch-associated behaviours in mice
%J -
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-018-0328-5
%X Itch〞a major symptom of many chronic skin diseases〞can exacerbate inflammation by provoking scratching and subsequent skin damage. Here, we show that activation, via near infrared illumination, of a phototoxic agent that selectively targets itch-sensing cells can reduce itch-associated behaviours in mice. We generated a SNAP-tagged interleukin-31 (IL-31) ligand derivative (IL-31K138A每SNAP) that selectively binds receptors on itch-associated cells, without evoking IL-31-receptor signalling or scratching, and conjugated it to the photosensitizer IRDye 700DX phthalocyanine. Subcutaneous injection of IL-31K138A每SNAP每IR700 in mice followed by near infrared illumination resulted in the long-term reversal of the scratching behaviour evoked by the pruritogenic IL-31, an effect that was associated with the selective retraction of itch-sensing neurons in the skin. We also show that a topical preparation of IL-31K138A每SNAP每IR700 reversed the behavioural and dermatological indicators of disease in mouse models of atopic dermatitis and of the genetic skin disease familial primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Targeted photoablation may enable itch control for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases
%U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-018-0328-5