Eczema, or atopic dermatitis (AD), is sometimes called “the itch that rashes.” Often, the itch begins before the rash appears, and, in many cases, the itchiness never really goes away. Approximately 9.6 million children and 16.5 million adults in the U.S. have AD, and it can have a serious effect on a person’s quality of life. Although much has been learned about the uncomfortable sensation that triggers the desire to scratch, many mysteries remain about chronic itch, and treatment for the condition remains a challenge. Now research led by investigators at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, published March 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers new clues about the underlying mechanisms of itch. The work, which was conducted in mice, points to a key molecular player known as cysteine leukotriene receptor 2 (CysLT2R) that may be a new target for designing treatments to target intractable chronic itch.
