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Astrocytes in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex are Differentially Engaged in Itch and Pain

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: two-photon calcium imaging to investigate the functional dynamics of S1 astrocytes in awake mice subjected to acute itch and pain stimuli, induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and capsaicin (CAP), respectively. Our imaging results showed that S1 astrocytes exhibited different patterns of calcium activity in response to itch- and pain-related stimuli. Furthermore, using astrocyte-targeted genetic and chemogenetic manipulations, we found that suppression of astrocytic calcium signaling using CalEx was associated with reduced pain-related behaviors, whereas chemogenetic activation of astrocytes tended to reduce itch-related behaviors. Taken together, these findings suggest that S1 astrocytes may respond differently to itch- and pain-related states and potentially contribute to their modulation in cortical sensory processing.

Source: Experimental Neurobiology

DOI: 10.5607/en26034

Authors: Seunghui Woo, Hyunjin Shin, Seunghwan Choi, Sang Jeong Kim, Geehoon Chung, Sun Kwang Kim

Institutions: Kyung Hee University, Seoul National University, Chungbuk National University

Language: English

Topic: Pain Mechanisms and Treatments

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Chungbuk National University, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, National Research Foundation of Korea