Hair-trigger itch: mice reveal vellus hairs as a mechanical itch sensor
A University of Michigan study shows that specialized vellus-like hairs in mice can trigger itching when stroked, with the sensation carried by fast-conducting neurons via the Piezo2 protein. In inflamed skin, these neurons fire more, and silencing the relevant genes reduces itch, suggesting a new pathway for treating chronic itch and supporting the use of mice as models for human itch therapies.