The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2012
Artemin causes hypersensitivity to warm sensation, mimicking warmth-provoked pruritus in atopic dermatitis.
Itch impairs the quality of life for many patients with dermatoses, especially atopic dermatitis (AD), and is frequently induced by a warm environment. ⋯ These data suggest that dermal fibroblasts secrete artemin in response to substance P, leading to abnormal peripheral innvervation and thermal hyperalgesia. We hypothesize that artemin lowers the threshold of temperature-dependent itch sensation and might therefore be a novel therapeutic target for treating pruritic skin disorders, including AD.