Xuelian Shu
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Interests
Xuelian Shu has a total of 11 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
Biying Wang
Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, 264117, China
1 shared publicationChuyuan Hu
Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, 264117, China
1 shared publicationHui Xiao
Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, 264117, China
1 shared publication- Jing-Gen Liu
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
1 shared publication Lijin Feng
Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, 264117, China
1 shared publicationPanwen Liu
Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, 264117, China
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- 11 September 2026
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 12 (37)
Kappa opioids suppress histaminergic itch by inhibiting mediodorsal thalamus-projecting claustrum glutamatergic neurons
Itch, an uncomfortable sensation that induces scratching, is suppressed by activation of kappa opioid receptors (KORs). KOR agonists, such as Nalfurafine, offer potent central antipruritic effects, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we report the important role of glutamatergic neurons in the claustrum (CLA) in itch modulation. Chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons significantly reduces histamine-induced scratching behavior, whereas their activation heightens scratching behavior. These CLA Glu neurons connect to the mediodorsal thalamus (MD), forming a pathway that modulates itch sensations. Optogenetic manipulation of the CLA Glu -MD pathway demonstrates that its inhibition decreases scratching behavior, whereas activation increases it. Notably, CLA Glu neurons highly express KORs, and treatment with Nalfurafine markedly inhibits histamine-induced CLA Glu neuronal activation. Conditional knockdown of KORs in CLA Glu neurons or the CLA Glu -MD circuit diminishes Nalfurafine’s antipruritic effects. These findings provide insight into the neural circuits involved in histaminergic itch and the action of KOR agonists.
- 11 September 2026
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 12 (37)
Kappa opioids suppress histaminergic itch by inhibiting mediodorsal thalamus-projecting claustrum glutamatergic neurons
Itch, an uncomfortable sensation that induces scratching, is suppressed by activation of kappa opioid receptors (KORs). KOR agonists, such as Nalfurafine, offer potent central antipruritic effects, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we report the important role of glutamatergic neurons in the claustrum (CLA) in itch modulation. Chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons significantly reduces histamine-induced scratching behavior, whereas their activation heightens scratching behavior. These CLA Glu neurons connect to the mediodorsal thalamus (MD), forming a pathway that modulates itch sensations. Optogenetic manipulation of the CLA Glu -MD pathway demonstrates that its inhibition decreases scratching behavior, whereas activation increases it. Notably, CLA Glu neurons highly express KORs, and treatment with Nalfurafine markedly inhibits histamine-induced CLA Glu neuronal activation. Conditional knockdown of KORs in CLA Glu neurons or the CLA Glu -MD circuit diminishes Nalfurafine’s antipruritic effects. These findings provide insight into the neural circuits involved in histaminergic itch and the action of KOR agonists.