PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Vemuri B. Reddy
AU  - Aurel O. Iuga
AU  - Steve G. Shimada
AU  - Robert H. LaMotte
AU  - Ethan A. Lerner
TI  - Cowhage-Evoked Itch Is Mediated by a Novel Cysteine Protease: A Ligand of Protease-Activated Receptors
AID  - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0716-08.2008
DP  - 2008 Apr 23
TA  - The Journal of Neuroscience
PG  - 4331--4335
VI  - 28
IP  - 17
4099  - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/17/4331.short
4100  - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/17/4331.full
SO  - J. Neurosci.2008 Apr 23; 28
AB  - Cowhage spicules provide an important model for histamine-independent itch. We determined that the active component of cowhage, termed mucunain, is a novel cysteine protease. We isolated mucunain and demonstrate that both native and recombinant mucunain evoke the same quality of itch in humans. We also show that mucunain is a ligand for protease-activated receptors two and four. These results support and expand the relationship between proteases, protease-activated receptors, and itch.