Itch-specific neurons in the ventrolateral orbital cortex selectively modulate the itch processing

  • Sci Adv. 2022 Jul 29;8(30):eabn4408. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abn4408.
Shan Jiang  1 ,  Yi-Song Wang  1 ,  Xiao-Xia Zheng  1 ,  Shan-Lan Zhao  1 ,  Yi Wang  1 ,  Lin Sun  1 ,  Peng-Hui Chen  2 ,  Yi Zhou  2 ,  Chung Tin  3 ,  Hong-Li Li  1 ,  Jian-Feng Sui  1  4 ,  Guang-Yan Wu  1  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 2. Department of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
  • 3. Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
  • 4. Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
PMID: 35905177 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn4408
Abstract

Itch is a cutaneous sensation that is critical in driving scratching behavior. The long-standing question of whether there are specific neurons for itch modulation inside the brain remains unanswered. Here, we report a subpopulation of itch-specific neurons in the ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) that is distinct from the pain-related neurons. Using a Tet-Off cellular labeling system, we showed that local inhibition or activation of these itch-specific neurons in the VLO significantly suppressed or enhanced itch-induced scratching, respectively, whereas the intervention did not significantly affect pain. Conversely, suppression or activation of pain-specific neurons in the VLO significantly affected pain but not itch. Moreover, fiber photometry and immunofluorescence verified that these itch- and pain-specific neurons are distinct in their functional activity and histological location. In addition, the downstream targets of itch- and pain-specific neurons were different. Together, the present study uncovers an important subpopulation of neurons in the VLO that specifically modulates itch processing.

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