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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 6.
Published in final edited form as: Annu Rev Biophys. 2014 May 6;43:331–355. doi: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-051013-022826

Table 1. Pruritogens and receptors in the periphery.

Pruritogen Source(s) Receptor(s) in DRG
Histamine Mast cells H1R, H4R
BAM8-22 Proteolytic cleavage of proenkephalin MrgprC11
CQ Antimalaria medicine MrgprA3
SLIGRL-NH2 Synthetic peptide or proteolytic cleavage of PAR2 MrgprC11, PAR2
β-alanine Muscle-building supplement MrgprD
Mucunain Cowhage PAR2, PAR4
Cathepsin S Immune cells and epithelial cells PAR2, PAR4
Tryptase Mast cells PAR2, PAR4
5-HT Mast cells 5-HT1, 5-HT2
ET-1 Endothelial cells ETA
Substance P Primary sensory neurons NK1
IL-31 Mainly Th2 lymphocytes IL-31RA, OSMR
Imiquimod Synthetic immunostimulant TLR7 (controversial)
Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid Synthetic immunostimulant TLR3
Bile acid Cholestasis TGR5
Lysophosphatidic acid Cholestasis Unknown

Abbreviations: BAM8-22, bovine adrenal medulla 8–22 peptide; CQ, chloroquine; DRG, dorsal root ganglion; ET-1, endothelin-1; IL-31, interleukin-31; 5-HT, serotonin.