ABSTRACTS FROM THE 13th World Congress of Itch (WCI) October 12-14, 2025

Pharmacological targeting of pruriceptors in pigs Z. Abbasi¹, M. Behrendt¹, M. Schmelz¹, H. J. Solinski¹ ¹Department of Experimental Pain Research, Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany Introduction: Plastic changes in human DRG neurons shape the altered function of skin afferents in various diseases but are difficult to study due to limitations. While murine models show significant divergence from human DRG neuron-types, pigs offer a closer physiological and transcriptomic match. Pruriceptive-neurons are of particular interest in chronic itch conditions such as atopic dermatitis. IL-31, a key mediator of chronic itch and signals through IL31RA/OSMR, a receptor-complex present in a small subset of porcine DRG-neurons. Objectives: To develop a functional method to identify pruriceptive neurons in pig DRG cultures, characterize their sensory properties, and assess whether IL-31 activates and/or sensitizes them, as in human chronic itch. Methods: By calcium imaging, we identified pruriceptive-neurons with overlapping responses to capsaicin and histamine. Neuronal dynamics were assessed using low/high-frequency sine-wave and rectangular electrical-stimulation. Finally, we tested pruriceptive-neurons for IL-31-induced activation, in vitro and in vivo, and sensitization to pruritogens. Results: We identified pig DRG neurons responsive to both capsaicin and histamine, consistent with a pruriceptive phenotype. These neurons showed silent nociceptor-like features: histaminergic sensitivity, poor frequency following, and prolonged calcium transients.IL-31 directly activated ~25% of pruriceptive neurons in vitro and intradermal injection of IL-31 elicited a neurogenic flare in pig, supporting direct activation of silent nociceptors by IL-31. IL-31 also sensitized neuronal responses to repeated histamine application. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that pruriceptive DRG-neurons in pig exhibit a functional silent nociceptor phenotype and respond to IL-31 with direct activation and facilitating chronic itch signalling. These findings provide a translationally relevant cellular model to study pruriceptive signalling, offering insight into chronic itch mechanisms in diseases like atopic dermatitis. Altered cutaneous neuroanatomy is associated with pruritus intensity in atopic dermatitis Konstantin Agelopoulos¹, F. Witte¹, H. Wiegmann¹, C. Zeidler¹, A. Brenske¹, E. Teitge¹, S. Ständer¹ ¹University Hospital Münster, Section for Pruritus Medicine, Department of Dermatology and Center for Chronic Pruritus, Münster, Germany Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic inflammatory dermatosis with alterations in peripheral neuroanatomy. However, the exact underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Objectives: Decipher alterations of peripheral nerve fibers and their impact in severe atopic dermatitis Methods: Biopsies from AD patients (n=39) from pruritic lesional (PL) and non-pruritic non-lesional (NPNL) skin were used for assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and innervation depth by PGP9.5 staining. Tight junction marker claudin-1 (CLDN-1) was assessed by immunofluorescence and IL-4RA, IL-13RA1 and IL-13RA2 by qPCR. Results: Reduced IENFD was seen in PL (5.81 fibers/mm) and NPNL (6.08). Epidermal hyperplasia in PL (vs.NPNL; p<0.001) and the depth of nerve fiber innervation into the epidermis correlated invers in PL. Unlike in NPNL, nerve fibers in PL ended more frequently in the stratum basale and lower stratum spinosum (SEC1), and less frequently reached the upper layers (SEC2=central stratum spinosum, and SEC3=upper stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum). Innervation depth correlated invers with reported itch intensity (NRS; rs=-0.463; p=0.010) and positive with CLDN-1 expression (rs=0.493; p=0.006). In PL, CLDN-1 expression was accentuated at basal layers and differed significantly from NPNL in SEC2 and SEC3, where clear expression was evident. A negative correlation between IL-4/-13 signalling and CLDN-1 was confirmed in NPNL for all analysed receptors but only for IL-13RA1 in PL. Conclusion:Epidermal hyperplasia in AD does not affect IENFD. However, there is a direct correlation between hyperplasia and the innervation depth of peripheral nerves. The innervation depth was associated with the reported pruritus intensity. Reduced innervation depth in PL could be caused by impaired epidermal tight junctions indicated by reduced CLDN-1 expression. Galectin-1, iglv1-47 and cd44 correlate with pruritus symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab Inoncent Agueusop¹, Elena Goleva², Evgeny Berdyshev³, Simion Kreimer4, Taras Lyubchenko², Robert Bissonnette5, Emilie Gloaguen6, Joseph Zahn7, Ana B. Rossi8, Annie Zhang8, Donald Y. M. Leung¹ ¹Sanofi, Frankfurt; ²Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; ³Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 4Advanced Clinical Biosystems Institute, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 5Innovaderm Research, Montreal, QC, Canada; 6Sanofi Subcontracting Soladis, Paris, France; 7Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA; 8Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA. Introduction: Chronic pruritus in atopic dermatitis (AD) lesional skin arises from a multifactorial pathogenesis, prominently involving type 2 immune responses. Disruption of the epidermal barrier facilitates the translocation of plasma proteins such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, Galectin 1, IGLV1-47 and CD44 into the epidermis. The presence of plasma proteins in lesional skin may contribute to the pathophysiology of itch. For instance, Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium implicated in chronic pruritus, can bind to host proteins such as fibronectin and fibrinogen, potentially exacerbating inflammatory responses and itch sensation. Objectives: To report new potential itch biomarkers and the effect of dupilumab treatment on these biomarkers. Methods: BALISTAD (NCT04447417) was a 16-week study in patients with AD aged 12–65 years. Serial skin assessments with skin tape stripping (STS) were performed on lesional and non-lesional AD skin of patients treated with dupilumab and on the normal skin of healthy volunteers. Proteomic analysis on STS protein extracts were performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry at Day 1, Day 56, and Week 16. Results: Strong correlations were detected between PP-NRS score at baseline and Galectin-1 (0.74), IGLV1-47 (0.71) and CD44 (0.78). Moderate correlation detected between PP-NRS at baseline and fibrinogen gamma (0.38), fibrinogen beta (0.45), fibrinogen alpha (0.24) and fibronectin (0.21). Galectin-1 (p<0.0001), IGLV1-47 (p<0.0001), CD44 (p<0.0001), fibrinogen(s) (p<0.0001), fibronectin (p<0.0001) and PP-NRS score (<0.0001) decreased significantly from baseline to week16. Safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile. Conclusions: Dupilumab significantly decreased expression levels of biomarkers strongly correlated with chronic pruritus in patients with AD, to levels comparable with those of healthy controls, and improved patient symptoms. The biomarkers could be further investigated as new itch biomarkers, which could drive research into new therapies for chronic pruritus. Correlation of serum biomarkers with disease severity in chronic spontaneous urticaria: an observational study SK Shahriar Ahmed1 1Wizderm Speciality Skin and Hair Clinic, Kolkata, India Introduction: Chronic-Spontaneous-Urticaria (CSU) is a disease with distinct type I and type IIb endotypes, contributing to variable disease presentations and management challenges. Although several biomarkers have been studied for their correlation with CSU severity, consistent associations remain unclear. Objectives: To assess the correlation between specific biomarkers and CSU severity. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study that included a total of 30 patients with CSU who were categorized into three-groups based on UAS7 scores: mild (n=8), moderate (n=16), and severe (n=6). The following biomarkers were assessed: Absolute-Basophil-Count (ABC), C-reactive-Protein (CRP), D-dimer, Mean-Platelet-Volume (MPV), Vitamin-D3, Absolute-Eosinophil-Count (AEC), Immunoglobulin E(IgE), and were using and and were Results: The was to be in the in the and in the The was and The levels were and levels were consistent all and The showed as and levels were in the mild to moderate and severe serum levels showed a significant with disease and levels were to be and all biomarkers, only serum showed a significant correlation with CSU severity. not significant of histaminergic and itch intensity for and Pain Department of and Faculty of Medicine, University, Introduction: In the of the mechanisms of itch been that the model may be to provide a of itch This is by itch and them, which to and to and could itch but remain in the study to whether and histaminergic and itch and to the between and itch. from healthy have been and The study of the the by of histamine intensity was using a from which intensity and the were the the and The by of the and Results: itch was by of the itch. itch correlated with and itch correlated with only correlated with and can itch in healthy and may as contributing mechanisms in chronic itch. of itch in patients with with and for and Pain Department of and of Medicine, Center University, Center Department of Clinical Medicine, University, for and Pain Neuroscience, University, Center Department of Department of Clinical Medicine, University, Department of Clinical Medicine, University, peripheral and of and to of with such as but also itch. been an in and which to further impact on In a cross-sectional to the associations between and and and assess the associated of itch. Methods: were into with and based on the with were into with and based on the In these and the of itch was Results: The study showed in with to The of further The in with were the sensory was The of itch was in the with and in the The in patients with itch was further reduced Conclusions: in been an in the and the for in to and of in healthy demonstrates significant effect on and B. A. S. E. J. for and of Medicine, and ²Department of and of Medicine, University, of Clinical Institute, of Dermatology and and of Clinical Medicine, of that does not directly itch but may neuronal to and in specific The between itch and are not fully in but may be the of targeting to directly the of in human sensory and the in To the effect of by on Methods: on the of healthy were for assessments at and was using Pain Pain Pain Pain and to to a injection of at baseline and 2 and at Results: By and p<0.001) the significantly from baseline 2 and p<0.001) the significantly with baseline decreased significantly in p<0.001) with baseline and showed significant between Conclusions: the and caused significant to and distinct in histamine and itch Emilie for and Pain Department of and of Medicine, University, of Center Pain Center, University, Center can be categorized into histaminergic and by distinct and itch is and receptors and activated by like a a model itch. neurogenic by are histamine but not application. can small and repeated assessment of cutaneous Objectives: The study to assess and the to histamine and using Methods: were and of histamine and to on the and to a The density in the and was and between histamine and Results: healthy the In the histamine and caused which was the In the histamine caused a which were both the study that both histamine and in the The significantly in the following histamine to distinct activation These findings the of as a for itch mechanisms and may contribute to the of afferents responses and may be for of therapies for itch and skin sensory from patient analysis ¹Department of of and Clinical Center for and Introduction: The activation of the due to to skin barrier and immune exacerbating dermatitis and chronic pruritus. following a mass in caused by a significant of to exhibit levels and sensory and Objectives: This study to the cutaneous by patients with through physiological the of and in their Methods: for and were and the of and in the were This study also the correlations between these and and Results: While significant were between patients and healthy controls, patients and reduced sensation. correlations were identified between and as as between and findings a potential of in skin and contribute to a more of the mechanisms underlying skin sensory in patients with models key in chronic itch Faculty of Medicine, Introduction: Chronic itch patients not only but and of models these Objectives: To in of and Methods: were to the of chronic spontaneous severe atopic chronic cutaneous pruritus and chronic in treatment and and responses. on a and Results: in and and and and and and were frequently in and show and key of with and to models that chronic itch with in human C. A. ¹Department of Medicine, Medical Center, USA; ²Department of Medical Center, USA; of and Medical of USA; Medical of USA; of Medical of USA; of Medicine, Medical of NY, USA; of Dermatology and Medical of USA; of Medical of USA; of of Introduction: is a and associated with and of the mechanisms underlying itch from those of is for the of The which peripheral sensory signals to the as a key for itch and potential Objectives: To human DRG neuronal associated with itch and using and identify that may as potential Methods: We a of human DRG neurons to identify transcriptomic expression were used to neurons into functional with a on analysis and were performed to and Results: distinct neuronal were and These showed of such as and analysis like and analysis between itch and study distinct transcriptomic of human DRG and key with These findings provide a for and targeting chronic itch. Pruritus in a of patients from atopic dermatitis and of Heidelberg Atopic dermatitis (AD) and are inflammatory skin show overlapping which can and treatment diseases frequently in Pruritus is the to a disease in these in an of of can as a chronic and/or In an was that to the impact of a new on and the of associated like disease and severity, treatment reported and chronic pruritus intensity and of pruritus. are a The disease from to of patients reported a skin disease for more years. pruritus at of which were chronic pruritus reported the patients not from significantly more patients The of the skin disease was not associated with the frequency of In pruritus was more severe in patients with pruritus which showed a significant and correlation However, severity was not significantly in and chronic pruritus is also in skin diseases with disease by of skin This is can further the skin disease and activation of protein itch of and Clinical Germany of and Clinical University, 2 The Institute, and the of and of Introduction: have that specific in sensory In can protein through of specific to an of While the of in was function in itch understood. Objectives: In we investigated the functional of the activation of in pruriceptive Methods: We used a in which the activation is the activation The itch of and was assessed intradermal injection of various pruritogens. The expression of in was using in and DRG neurons were used for and calcium Results: Our findings an altered of in models of itch. In and a of with itch of DRG neurons with distinct in levels and altered calcium in DRG These that the activation of be in pruriceptive in sensory as a treatment for a report E. B. A. S. ¹Department of Hospital of ²Department of Hospital and of of and Clinical Hospital of disease is a and by and severe chronic itch and significantly of are and and the of are but may we present the of a patient with treatment an of itch and an of skin treatment with the to the patient a poor to and were not due to and analysis of lesional skin to a expression of and of treatment and of skin and was significantly and expression is a key which and altered the of the in the inflammatory may be a new treatment for through the of Chronic pruritus in associated and impact on of Medical Center, Department of The Chronic pruritus is a that frequently yet and impact on of in remain Objectives: To identify associated and and impact on in a Methods: This cross-sectional study included from the who on and and the between and were assessed using with were using with analysis the of the Results: the of and was and was associated with atopic and poor those with was impaired The were to atopic and poor and the Conclusions: is in and associated with a of and Atopic dermatitis and symptoms were strongly to impaired These findings the to as a in and to for associated with pruritus in a study Department of France; of Introduction: The and functional for pruritus is present However, pruritus is in and is in Objectives: The of study was to potentially associated with pruritus in from atopic dermatitis Methods: of were in a healthy and a with moderate severe The severity of AD was using the Atopic The were for at and the were analysed by using the Results: aged to were included healthy and with were more in the AD in the healthy was between the were analysis the presence of with which could be identified as This was more in the AD Correlation showed that was associated with but not with was between and Conclusions: This is the study to that can be identified in with pruritus develop the to of and in patients with chronic from an observational study in Emilie of with chronic remain to treatment and from impaired of due to their chronic and associated that and are in patients with chronic To and in patients and to controls, and to identify of Methods: This study is of a cross-sectional study in patients and was with the with the with the and with the Results: with were included of were and more of patients were with their of In the levels of and were significantly in was associated with and a severe with and lower and with lower and itch with and with This that patients who are for can have more the and that their is by and itch. patients have levels of and with are are to like lower as as to and Clinical and in pruritus and Brenske¹, Zeidler¹, ¹Department of Dermatology and Hospital Münster, of of and for Translational and and Germany Introduction: pruritus and are chronic pruritic by itch skin to changes from their these conditions remain which may their Objectives: This study to for and by their Methods: A analysis of patients with was at the Center for Chronic Pruritus Hospital patients with fully between and were Clinical sensory intraepidermal nerve fiber density and findings from the analysis used and in Results: itch intensity assessed using the were in itch showed significant correlation with itch was significant in but in Pruritus and sensory were significant for significant was for were not which is a for IENFD in lesional skin was reduced in and relevant in IENFD was not altered in correlation and pruritus are for less distinct and more to IENFD is for but with in These findings more a to and Dupilumab reduced itch severity in patients with chronic spontaneous baseline in a a and analysis S. Ana M. Joseph Zahn7, of and of USA; and Center, USA; Department of Dermatology and and Center, of USA; Montreal, QC, Canada; Institute, of Medicine, 7Regeneron Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA; 8Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, Introduction: and disease may impact in patients with chronic spontaneous an improved itch and in A and C. Objectives: To assess itch with dupilumab CSU patient based on mass and Methods: patients CSU were in A and In analysis were by baseline and was assessed by from baseline in Results: of and patients was and and were and and were Week was with dupilumab treatment treatment by were The with dupilumab was with of baseline to was patients at baseline with dupilumab For and dupilumab reduced itch and more and in patients aged was with dupilumab with Safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile. Dupilumab reduced Week itch severity patient of presence of of the in and in patients with itch of Medicine, Introduction: is a with for The is a itch severity on a is a of the Dermatology a of and We to itch severity and affect Methods: The was to all patients by associated with patient severity score were years. were as were categorized as of were categorized as and were by and itch severity. Results: were to with severe itch but to those with mild itch were the severe itch reduced and with a severity in all severity with comparable These findings and affect for patients with itch and like the can identify and the of pruritus in a of Institute, Department of Introduction: is a of cutaneous by and associated with severe pruritus. is due to and treatment responses. Objectives: To report a of with chronic pruritus and the to and Methods: A with a of pruritic of and confirmed therapies included and was treated with and and Results: The patient showed following the treatment and in and pruritus intensity decreased of The reduced and improved skin with of This the potential of and therapies in the of as an of pruritus and cutaneous was the of treatment in itch that signals serum in Medical and Introduction: and may present with chronic spontaneous but their distinct symptoms and such pruritic is for management and Objectives: To a potential as serum in and as a distinct Methods: We report a of healthy who with of for less associated with symptoms such as and The of from to were by Clinical and a Skin in the upper and function and levels were normal in all Results: were The a serum patients to with significant was remain This the of presentations of in the While chronic these exhibit and management can and disease are to and itch signals and by of Medical and India Introduction: Chronic itch is a that may underlying inflammatory a with pruritic for chronic spontaneous is associations treatment Objectives: To as a of itch in a patient with chronic and to the but of in Methods: A with a of the upper and associated with and with of disease were but normal levels and negative showed on an confirmed with and The patient was on and Results: Although the patient and by of confirmed was and the patient was treated with and a was This the to in patients with itch to While a remain for in and of symptoms are to in and of Medical is a that in the The skin is the and barrier and to a of sensory immune and a While been that pruritic skin such as atopic are to we have only identified a direct for in itch. The Staphylococcus is from healthy skin but can be in to of atopic dermatitis We that S. directly activates itch neurons and which skin barrier is not clear through the skin to itch and skin Our present that S. itch responses in the and that are distinct from those in of skin barrier and itch. are activated by of itch further of contribute to the and skin pruritus and diseases M. E. ¹Department of 1, Hospital and of and Medicine, Hospital and of of Clinic, of and Hospital of Introduction: Chronic pruritus in both and diseases but While total levels have been may Objectives: To whether the of is associated with pruritus in patients with disease and chronic pruritus Methods: from patients with diseases with pruritus, and patients with were by included and and Pruritus was assessed using the used the Results: In both the and patients with chronic pruritus significantly lower non-pruritic This was by levels of were a itch phenotype in pruritus. These findings that total a in the of chronic pruritus in both and The may as a of itch and a potential for to these with in sensory and treatment the of itch in diseases ¹University of of Medicine, Department of Dermatology and USA. Introduction: diseases and are in which pruritus is a but is as a to disease and may be an marker of disease in Objectives: To and the on pruritus in and of assessment Methods: A was using and were through following and Results: The frequently studied disease was by dermatitis (n=8), and included cross-sectional and Pruritus frequently as a in for and IL-31 in itch. correlated with itch severity. itch of were used in were reported with therapies targeting itch was reported as a significant in where further is Pruritus in is and therapies and for Pruritus and sensory in of in a known as in due to the of with levels of This and is by symptoms pruritus, sensory and inflammatory skin The associated with sensory due to peripheral but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. is an to the mechanisms underlying sensory and cutaneous by pruritus in We and in patients using and serum levels of were by and expression in skin was patients to show reduced to levels of were significantly in the These findings that may in peripheral nerve innervation of the contributing to sensory such as pruritus. of and of patients with chronic pruritus of a cross-sectional analysis of Center for and of CA, USA; ²Department of of of Medicine, USA; USA; Introduction: Chronic pruritus of is as pruritus an identified are on and This study and as as treatment of patients with with in Methods: with and between and were identified using the and with were identified as those with for pruritus at A analysis using the and but also patients with the was were as and Results: In the patients were identified by the in a of to a total of patients based on a of The analysis patients was and were conditions included and and

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