
Zhou-Feng Chen, PhD
Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch sensation
Email: | chenz@wustl.edu |
Lab Phone: | (314) 747-5360 |
Website: | Chen Lab |
Lab Location: | Clinical Sciences Research 6640 |
Keywords: | itch, pain, neural circuit, signaling mechanisms, behavior, molecular biology, mouse genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, neural anatomy |
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch sensation
All animals must have somatic sensations which permit them to sense external environmental stimuli, including chemical, mechanical and electrical inputs so that they would adapt and respond accordingly. Sensation of itch is the least understood among all somatic sensations (pain, touch, temperature, itch, body posture etc).
Scratch is an innate reflex (genetically programmed), and may occur in the absence of the brain. In contrast, itch is a perception originated in the brain. Itch is an unpleasant sensation that evokes the desire to scratch. Scratching response of animals provides a relatively simple behavioral output enabling us to study underlying neural circuits and accompanying signaling mechanisms.
A fundamental question we are interested is how our brain perceives itch as itch, pain as pain. Is the itch signal transmitted through an itch-specific neuronal pathway? What is the molecular basis of itch sensation?
We use the mouse as the model system to address these important questions. Mouse serves the best animal model for elucidating molecular and neuronal mechanisms of itch circuit because this simple reflex can be easily observed, quantified and manipulated by pharmacological, molecular and genetic approaches.
We are using multi-disciplinary approaches including molecular, cellular, biochemical, genetic and electrophysiological approaches to understand neural circuits and signaling mechanisms of itch sensation, as well as their interactions with the skin and immune systems.
Updated January 2014
Hope Center Affiliations
WashU Affiliations
- Department of Anesthesiology
- Department of Psychiatry
- Department of Developmental Biology
- Director, Center for the Study of Itch
- Pain Center
- Siteman Cancer Center
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Program
- Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology Program
- Molecular Genetics & Genomics Program
- Neuroscience Program
- Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences