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Arsenic exposure and pruritus: evidence from observational, interventional, and Mendelian randomization studies
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  • Xiaoyan Huang,
  • Yi Xiao,
  • Danrong Jing,
  • Yuzhou Huang,
  • Songchun Yang,
  • Zhijun Huang,
  • Guoping Yang,
  • Yanying Duan,
  • Meian He,
  • Juan Su,
  • Mingliang Chen,
  • Xiang Chen,
  • Minxue Shen
Xiaoyan Huang
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Yi Xiao
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Danrong Jing
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Yuzhou Huang
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Songchun Yang
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Zhijun Huang
Furong Laboratory
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Guoping Yang
Furong Laboratory
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Yanying Duan
Central South University Xiangya School of Public Health
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Meian He
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
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Juan Su
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Mingliang Chen
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Xiang Chen
Xiangya Hospital Central South University Department of Dermatology
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Minxue Shen
Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background: Pruritus has been reported as an adverse drug reaction to arsenic trioxide, but the association of arsenic exposure with pruritus has not been systematically investigated. To investigate the association of arsenic exposure with pruritus, we performed observational, interventional, and Mendelian randomization studies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shimen, China. A Mendelian randomization study was conducted to confirm the causal relationship between susceptibility to arsenic toxicity, in terms of genetically predicted percentages of monomethylated arsenic (MMA%) and dimethylated arsenic (DMA%) in urine, and chronic pruritus in the UK Biobank participants. Then, a case-control study in Shimen participants was conducted to determine the biomarker for pruritus, and arsenite-treated mice were used to confirm the biomarker. Last, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of naloxone, a μ-opioid receptor antagonist, in arsenic-exposed patients with pruritus in Shimen. Results: Hair arsenic showed a dose-response relationship with the intensity of itch in 1092 participants. The Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed the causal relationship in the UK Biobank participants, with odds ratios of 1.043 for MMA% and 0.904 for DMA% above versus under median. Serum β-endorphin was identified as a significant biomarker associated with the intensity of itch. Consistently, treatment with arsenite in mice upregulated the level of β-endorphin. The randomized controlled trial showed that treatment with sublingual naloxone significantly relieved the intensity of itch in arsenic-exposed participants. Conclusion: Arsenic exposure is associated with pruritus, and β-endorphin serves as a biomarker of pruritus. Naloxone relieves pruritus in patients with [arseniasis](javascript:;).
13 Jan 2023Submitted to Allergy
13 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Mar 20231st Revision Received
13 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
31 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Accept