Sun. Mar 26, 2023 2:55 PM - 4:47 PM [Room F1] Frontier Research in Applied Sciences Building: Lecture Hall (2F)

Organizer: Masabumi Minami, Junken Aoki, Tsuyoshi Saitoh, Takayuki Nakagawa, Yukihiko Sugimoto, Makoto Tsuda

Chair: Yukihiko Sugimoto, Takayuki Nakagawa

Humans and other organisms use their five senses to recognize a variety of physical and chemical information from the external world for their survival and preservation. For tissue damage and harmful stimuli, however, the nociceptive system and its associated pain and itch sensations play an important role as a defense system. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms for nociception has been greatly advanced by the discovery of TRPV1 channels (the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2021) and of other sensor molecules (e.g., receptors and ion channels, and enzymes). In addition, the recent discovery of a neural subset that selectively transmits itch signals has revealed itch-selective neural pathway. Contrary, under disease conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, and atopic dermatitis), these functions are pathologically altered, which in turn causes chronic pain and itch. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, but recent studies have proposed that chronic pain and itch are not simply a consequence of the continuity of these acute signals but rather involve a malfunction in the pain and itch networks of the nervous system. This symposium invites researchers who have been working at the forefront will show their latest, interesting findings that have uncovered new mechanisms for pain and itch and their chronicity, and based on their findings we will also discuss new concepts for drug discovery, and future challenges and prospects.