An itch to scratch: Potential approach to chronic itch problem identified

Summary: Blocking the NPR1 receptor on the spinal cords of mice and humans may help reduce chronic itching.

Source: NIH/NCATS

Chronic itch goes beyond being just a simple annoyance; it can greatly affect a person’s quality of life. While scientists have some clues to its causes, effective therapies have been elusive.

Now, using a technique called quantitative high-throughput screening to sort through more than 86,000 compounds at the same time, researchers at NCATS and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) report a new strategy that may eventually help alleviate chronic itch. They’ve shown that blocking a receptor, or docking station, found on the surface of both mouse and human spinal cord neurons could be key.

Several years ago, Mark Hoon, Ph.D., and his colleagues at NIDCR found a receptor, Npr1, on mouse spinal cord neurons for a protein associated with itch. The protein fit into Npr1 like a key into a lock, helping turn on the itch sensation. Npr1 appeared to be a potential target for drugs to halt itch.

This shows neurons
Nerves that stimulate skin are grouped in structures next to the spinal cord. Here, nerves in such a structure — called a dorsal root ganglion — that are involved in detecting an itch are labeled green. Nerves involved in sensing pain, temperature and other stimuli are shown in magenta. The image is credited to Hans Juergen Solinski, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Hoon contacted NCATS scientist James Inglese, Ph.D., and his team for help in identifying compounds that could block Npr1 activity. The researchers developed a series of assays, or tests, and used robots to screen compounds in human cells, finding approximately 1,400 molecules worth examining more closely. They then developed additional assays to narrow the list to 15 compounds. They showed a subset of these compounds could halt both human and mouse versions of the receptor from working. A follow-up study in mice showed that blocking the receptor reduced scratching.

Next, the scientists will examine more candidate compounds and determine how they block Npr1. They hope the findings will help them choose which compounds to study further and chemically modify as potential anti-itch drugs. Hoon, Inglese and their colleagues reported the results online July 10 in Science Translational Medicine.

“This is a proof-of-concept study and an important application of what NCATS does,” Inglese said. “We wanted to show that by pharmacologically blocking the target receptor, the approach could be successful in finding a drug to treat chronic itch. Because it can take a long time to develop an ideal compound, the rationale behind the approach needs to be well vetted.”

About this neuroscience research article

Source:
NIH/NCATS
Media Contacts:
Steven Benowitz – NIH/NCATS
Image Source:
The image is credited to Hans Juergen Solinski, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Original Research: Open access
“Inhibition of natriuretic peptide receptor 1 reduces itch in mice”. Hans Jürgen Solinski, Patricia Dranchak, Erin Oliphant, Xinglong Gu, Thomas W. Earnest, John Braisted, James Inglese and Mark A. Hoon.
Science Translational Medicine. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aav5464

Abstract

Inhibition of natriuretic peptide receptor 1 reduces itch in mice

There is a major clinical need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic itch. Many of the molecular components involved in itch neurotransmission are known, including the neuropeptide NPPB, a transmitter required for normal itch responses to multiple pruritogens in mice. Here, we investigated the potential for a novel strategy for the treatment of itch that involves the inhibition of the NPPB receptor NPR1 (natriuretic peptide receptor 1). Because there are no available effective human NPR1 (hNPR1) antagonists, we performed a high-throughput cell-based screen and identified 15 small-molecule hNPR1 inhibitors. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that these compounds specifically inhibit hNPR1 and murine NPR1 (mNPR1). In vivo, NPR1 antagonism attenuated behavioral responses to both acute itch– and chronic itch–challenged mice. Together, our results suggest that inhibiting NPR1 might be an effective strategy for treating acute and chronic itch.

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