Anti-pruritic effect of isothiocyanates: Potential involvement of toll-like receptor 3 signaling.

The innate immune system has an emerging role as a mediator of neuro-immune communication and a therapeutic target for itch. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays an important role in itch, as shown in TLR3 knock-out mice. In this study, to evaluate effects of TLR3 inhibitors on histamine-independent itch, we used two kinds of isothiocyanate (ITC). Both phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and sulforaphane (SFN) inhibited Poly I:C (PIC)-induced signaling in the RAW264.7 cell line. We then investigated the anti-pruritic effect of these compounds on PIC- and chloroquine (CQ)-induced scratching behavior. PEITC and SFN both suppressed PIC-evoked scratching behavior in mice, and PEITC also inhibited CQ-induced acute itch. Finally, we examined the oxazolone-induced chronic itch model in mice. Surprisingly, oral dosing of both compounds suppressed scratching behaviors that were observed in mice. Our findings demonstrate that TLR3 is a critical mediator in acute and chronic itch transduction in mice and may be a promising therapeutic target for pruritus in human skin disorders. It is noteworthy that SFN has potential for use as an antipruritic as it is a phytochemical that is used as a supplement.

Intrinsic 2D Ferromagnetism in V5Se8 Epitaxial Thin Films.

The discoveries of intrinsic ferromagnetism in atomically thin van der Waals crystals have opened a new research field enabling fundamental studies on magnetism at two-dimensional (2D) limit as well as development of magnetic van der Waals heterostructures. Currently, a variety of 2D ferromagnetism has been explored mainly by mechanically exfoliating "originally ferromagnetic (FM)" van der Waals crystals, while a bottom-up approach by thin-film growth technique has demonstrated emergent 2D ferromagnetism in a variety of "originally non-FM" van der Waals materials. Here we demonstrate that V5Se8 epitaxial thin films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy exhibit emergent 2D ferromagnetism with intrinsic spin polarization of the V 3d electrons despite that the bulk counterpart is "originally antiferromagnetic". Moreover, thickness-dependence measurements reveal that this newly developed 2D ferromagnet could be classified as an itinerant 2D Heisenberg ferromagnet with weak magnetic anisotropy, broadening a lineup of 2D magnets to those potentially beneficial for future spintronics applications.

Activation of ß-adrenoceptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis induces food intake reduction and anxiety-like behaviors.

We previously demonstrated the critical role of noradrenergic transmission within the ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBNST) in pain-induced aversion. We showed that activation of ß-adrenoceptors in this brain region by intra-vBNST injection of isoproterenol, a ß-adrenoceptor agonist, produced aversive responses. In the present study, we examined the effects of a ß-adrenoceptor agonist injected into the vBNST on food intake and anxiety-like behaviors in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Bilateral intra-vBNST injection of isoproterenol (3 and 10 nmol/side) caused a dose-dependent decrease in food intake; this suppressive effect was reversed by co-administration of timolol, a ß-adrenoceptor antagonist. Dose-dependent (10 and 30 nmol/side) induction of anxiety-like behaviors by isoproterenol was observed in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, which was also reversed by co-administration of timolol. Off-site control injections of isoproterenol into the lateral ventricle did not show any significant effect in the food consumption and EPM tests. These results suggest that the vBNST is one of the neuroanatomical substrates which may be involved in the close relationship between negative affective states and reduction of food intake, and that noradrenergic transmission within this brain region plays a critical role in inducing anxiety-like behaviors and reduced food intake.