Cowhage-evoked itch is mediated by a novel cysteine protease: a ligand of protease-activated receptors.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Reddy VB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2659338 | biostudies-other | 2008 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Publications
Cowhage-evoked itch is mediated by a novel cysteine protease: a ligand of protease-activated receptors.
Reddy Vemuri B VB Iuga Aurel O AO Shimada Steve G SG LaMotte Robert H RH Lerner Ethan A EA
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20080401 17
Cowhage spicules provide an important model for histamine-independent itch. We determined that the active component of cowhage, termed mucunain, is a novel cysteine protease. We isolated mucunain and demonstrate that both native and recombinant mucunain evoke the same quality of itch in humans. We also show that mucunain is a ligand for protease-activated receptors two and four. These results support and expand the relationship between proteases, protease-activated receptors, and itch. ...[more]
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