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Atopic dermatitis (AD) remains an incredibly common condition, and associated chronic itch one of the most difficult symptoms to treat.
In the course of studying genes highly expressed in the dorsal root ganglia, where the cell bodies of neurons that transmit itch reside, Wilson and colleagues were surprised to find the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Seeking to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate TSLP secretion and promote TSLP-evoked itch, they injected TSLP directly into mouse skin. The TSLP evoked scratching behavior that did not depend upon lymphocytes or mast cells. The protein induced electrical activity in a subset of neurons that responded to histamine and chloroquine, specifically neurons that express TSLP receptor…