A single protein that helps drive responses to touch, temperature, pain and itch could offer a new drug target
A light brush, a hot surface and an irritating itch all activate different sensory pathways, yet researchers have determined that, in mice, these otherwise distinct responses share a molecular helper. A team led by Bailong Xiao at Tsinghua University found that removing the protein CRELD1 weakened the animals' reactions to touch, heat, cold, painful pressure and itch. But how can one protein…
Researchers have discovered that a single protein called CRELD1 plays a crucial role in how mice perceive touch, temperature, pain, and itch sensations. Despite activating distinct sensory pathways, the protein appears to act as a molecular helper across multiple senses in these animals. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest that CRELD1 could be a promising new drug target for treating pain and itch.
Researchers found that removing CRELD1 from mice weakened their reactions to various stimuli, including touch, heat, cold, painful pressure, and itch. However, the mice's ability to move remained normal, indicating that the issue lies in the electrical signaling process rather than overall movement. The researchers discovered that CRELD1 binds to sodium channels, which are essential for generating electrical impulses in neurons.
Without CRELD1, sodium currents weakened, making neurons need stronger stimulation to fire and reducing the number of electrical impulses sent. Interestingly, increasing CRELD1 production had the opposite effect, strengthening sodium currents and enhancing the mice's responsiveness to touch, heat, and cold. While the discovery offers a potential drug target, further research is needed to determine if the human version of the protein functions similarly and to explore its therapeutic implications.
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