| First Author | Zheng J | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Curr Biol | Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1453-1468.e6 |
| PubMed ID | 38484733 | Mgi Jnum | J:347689 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7626020 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.060 |
| Citation | Zheng J, et al. (2024) An insular cortical circuit required for itch sensation and aversion. Curr Biol 34(7):1453-1468.e6 |
| abstractText | Itch encompasses both sensory and emotional dimensions, with the two dimensions reciprocally exacerbating each other. However, whether a shared neural circuit mechanism governs both dimensions remains elusive. Here, we report that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) is activated by both histamine-dependent and -independent itch stimuli. The activation of AIC elicits aversive emotion and exacerbates pruritogen-induced itch sensation and aversion. Mechanistically, AIC excitatory neurons project to the GABAergic neurons in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST). Manipulating the activity of the AIC --> dBNST pathway affects both itch sensation and itch-induced aversion. Our study discovers the shared neural circuit (AIC --> dBNST pathway) underlying the itch sensation and aversion, highlights the critical role of the AIC as a central hub for the itch processing, and provides a framework to understand the neural mechanisms underlying the sensation and emotion interaction. |
