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The TRPA1 (Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel, member A1) is an ion channel, found in the skin and inside the nose and mouth.

A study on the effects of nicotine published Sunday in Nature Neuroscience could explain why the chemical patches and other alternative treatments to quit smoking often cause irritation and itching.

This finding could help develop treatments to stop smoking without many side effects. Nicotine compound organic plant alkaloid found in the snuff, active in the body a channel that is known to be associated with inflammatory reactions.

This ion channel, which is in the skin and inside the nose and mouth, could be the source of irritation as a side effect, they cause the snuff replacement therapy.

It was thought that itching and rashes that lead to nicotine patches and other treatments were due to stimulation of nicotinic receptors in the nerves that transmit painful stimuli from the skin and tissue lining the nose and mouth .

However, in mice, nicotine also directly activated TRPA1, the channel associated with the transmission of information on irritants and inflammatory pain. TRPA1-deficient mice did not show any reaction of irritation with nicotine administered nasally.

This finding could help develop treatments to stop smoking without many side effects such as these.

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