To Scratch or Not to Scratch, That Is the Question Podcast Episode · Derms on Drugs · 03/14/2025 · 36m

Derm on Drugs is a podcast where some current and former U of Pitt faculty talk about dermatology. Here is an episode where I joined to talk about itch and scratching. It was a really fun time and they did a great job. #dermatology #immunology #eczema podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

I was scheduled for study section starting tomorrow. Everything's all done and ready to go. Just heard it's being "rescheduled." No reason given.

But winter itch is all about dryness. Moisturize!!!

It does suggest that targeting mast cells is something to focus on.

My PO says ours at end of Feb is still on. But who knows.

Also big thanks to the labs of Marlies Meisel and Tina Sumpter here at Pitt and all co-authors.

Scratching more than an itch Enhanced antibacterial skin inflammation is an adaptation of the itch-scratch cycle

Also Aaron Ver Heul at Wash U wrote a lovely persepctive. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation Itch is a dominant symptom in dermatitis, and scratching promotes cutaneous inflammation, thereby worsening disease. However, the mechanisms through which scratching exacerbates inflammation and wheth...

Why scratching makes a rash worse and a potential benefit to scratching--it reduced S. aureus on skin. Andrew Liu's paper from our lab is out now at #science #neuroimmune #immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Feeling Itchy? Study Suggests Novel Way to Treat Inflammatory Skin Conditions - UPMC & Pitt Health Sciences News Blog A new approach to treat rosacea and other inflammatory skin… Read more

Also a summary of the work here #neuroimmunology

And I found some choice photographs to show for the introduction!!!

Agonism of the glutamate receptor GluK2 suppresses dermal mast cell activation and cutaneous inflammation Small-molecule agonism of GluK2 reduces dermal mast cell responses to MrgprB2 ligation and suppresses skin inflammation.

New paper from Kaplan Lab. Agonizing a specific glutamate receptor on mast cells in the skin renders them less function and can suppress several models of skin inflammation. Congrats to Youran Zhang and all co-authors. #skinimmunology #immunology #mastcells www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Yes pls