Itch-Associated Peptides: RNA-Seq and Bioinformatic Analysis of Natriuretic Precursor Peptide B and Gastrin Releasing Peptide in Dorsal Root and Trigeminal Ganglia, and the Spinal Cord

Abstract

RNA-Seq corroborates a primary itch afferent role for NPPB in mouse and potentially NPPB and NPPA in rats and humans, but does not support GRP as a primary itch neurotransmitter in mouse, rat, or humans. As such, our results are at odds with the initial proposal of Sun and Chen (2007) that GRP is expressed in DRG. By contrast, our data strongly support an itch pathway where the itch-inducing actions of GRP are exerted through its release from spinal cord neurons.