Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Itch in Psoriasis

Abstract

Itch (or pruritus) was not previously recognized as a serious symptom of psoriasis. However, approximately 60–90% of psoriatic patients with pruritus have stated that it deteriorates their quality of life. Since conventional antipruritic therapies, such as antihistamines, only exert limited effects, the establishment of a treatment option for itch in psoriasis is urgently needed. Although a definitive drug is not currently available, various itch mediators are known to be involved in pruritus in psoriasis. In this review, we describe the clinical features of pruritus in psoriasis, classify a wide range of itch mediators into categories, such as the nervous, immune, endocrine, and vascular systems, and discuss the mechanisms by which these mediators induce or aggravate itch in the pathophysiology of psoriasis.

Keywords

• cytokines
• HPA axis
• itch
• neurogenic inflammation
• neuropeptides
• pruritus