Deparment of Dermatology, Boltzmann Institute for Cell- and Immunobiology of Skin, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Allergy. 2010 Jul;65(7):805-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.01995.x. Epub 2010 Apr 7.
Pruritus (itch) is a major characteristic and one of the most debilitating symptoms in allergic and atopic diseases and the diagnostic hallmark of atopic dermatitis. Pruritus is regularly defined as an unpleasant sensation provoking the desire to scratch. Although we achieved rather good knowledge about certain inducers of itch such as neuropeptides, amines, mu-opioids, cytokines and proteases, for example, less is known about the pathophysiological specifities among the different diseases, and the therapeutic consequences which may derive thereoff. This review dissects the role of mediators, receptors and itch inhibitors on peripheral nerve endings, dorsal root ganglia, the spinal cord and the CNS leading to the amplification or - vice versa - suppression of pruritus. As the treatment of pruritus in allergic and atopic skin disease is still not satisfactory, knowing these pathways and mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic approaches against this frequently encountered skin symptom.
瘙痒（痒）是过敏和特应性疾病的主要特征之一，也是特应性皮炎的诊断标志，也是最具致残性的症状之一。瘙痒通常被定义为一种不愉快的感觉，会引起搔抓的欲望。尽管我们对某些瘙痒诱导剂（如神经肽、胺类、μ-阿片类、细胞因子和蛋白酶）有了相当好的了解，但对于不同疾病之间的病理生理学特异性以及由此产生的治疗后果，我们知之甚少。这篇综述剖析了介质、受体和位于外周神经末梢、背根神经节、脊髓和中枢神经系统的瘙痒抑制剂的作用，这些作用会导致瘙痒的放大或反之亦然的抑制。由于治疗过敏和特应性皮肤病的瘙痒仍然不尽如人意，了解这些途径和机制可能会为治疗这种常见的皮肤症状带来新的治疗方法。
