FIGURE 4.

Inhibition of pain and itch transmission by LJA5 neurons. Histamine and capsaicin in the skin are detected by receptors on DRG nerve fibers that transmit pain and itch information to the spinal cord and up to the brain. LJA5 Pdyn‐expressing GABAergic neurons in the brainstem send inhibitory descending projections to sensory relay neurons in lamina I of the dorsal horn, lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB), and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Activating this inhibitory “top‐down” projection suppresses pain and itch signaling