Effects of short-term temperature change in the innocuous range on histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch

Lewis, Z; George, David N; Cowdell, Fiona; Holle, Henning

Abstract

While temperatures in the noxious range are well-known to inhibit acute itch, the impact of temperature in the innocuous temperature range is less well understood. We investigated the effect of alternating short-term temperature changes in the innocuous range on histamine and cowhage-induced acute itch, taking into account individual differences in baseline skin temperature and sensory thresholds. Results indicate that cooling the skin to the cold threshold causes a temporary increase in the intensity of histamine-induced itch, in line with previous findings. Skin warming increased cowhage-induced itch intensity. Potential mechanisms of this interaction between thermosensation and pruritoception could involve cold-sensitive channels such as TRPM8, TREK-1 or TRPC5 in the case of histamine. The rapid modulation of cowhage induced itch - but not histamine-induced itch - by transient skin warming could be related to the lower temperature threshold of pruriceptive polymodal C-fibres (cowhage) as compared to the higher temperature threshold of the mechanoinsensitive C-Fibres conveying histaminergic itch.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2019
• Print ISSN: 0001-5555
• Electronic ISSN: 1651-2057
• Publisher: Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 99
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 188-195
• APA6 Citation: Lewis, Z., George, D. N., Cowdell, F., & Holle, H. (2019). Effects of short-term temperature change in the innocuous range on histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Acta dermato-venereologica, 99(2), 188-195. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3077
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3077
• Keywords: Skin temperature; Histamine; Sensory thresholds; Pruritus
• Publisher URL: http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/abstract/10.2340/00015555-3077