Histamine-induced itch converts into pain in neuropathic hyperalgesia
Abstract
Physiologically, itch and pain are transmitted in separate specific peripheral C-units and central afferent pathways. Some neuropathic pain patients with intact but sensitized (irritable) primary C-nociceptors have spontaneous pain, heat hyperalgesia, static and dynamic mechanical hyperalgesia. The question was whether cutaneous histamine application induces pain in these patients. For comparison histamine was applied into normal skin experimentally sensitized by capsaicin. Histamine application in the capsaicin-induced primary or secondary hyperalgesic skin did not change the intensity and quality of capsaicin pain. Itch was profoundly inhibited. Conversely, histamine application in neuropathic skin induced severe increase in spontaneous burning pain but no itch. In neuropathies irritable nociceptors may express histamine receptors or induce central sensitization to histaminergic stimuli so that itch converts into pain.
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Neuronal histamine receptors are upregulated or modulated by nerve injury.
“Histamine is a key mediator released by activated mast cells.It can sensitize nociceptors (14, 15), and neuronal histamine receptors are upregulated or modulated by nerve injury (33,34).”
From Pain, mast cells, and nerves in peritoneal, ovarian, and deep infiltrating endometriosis (2006) · cites this paper as [34]
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Pain, mast cells, and nerves in peritoneal, ovarian, and deep infiltrating endometriosis
Anaf, V., Chapron, C., El Nakadi, I., De Moor, V., Simonart, T., & Noël, J.-C. (2006) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.03.057 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Baron, R., Schwarz, K., Kleinert, A., Schattschneider, J., & Wasner, G.
- Affiliations
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Venue
- Neuroreport
- Published
- 2001-11
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 3475-3478
- ISSN
- 0959-4965 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1994952379
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroreport (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Keywords
- histamine, pruritus, neuropathic pain, hyperalgesia, capsaicin, central sensitization, histamine receptors, mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia
- MeSH terms
- Hot Temperature, Histamine, Humans, Hyperalgesia, Nociceptors, Pain, Pruritus
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