Fig. 1

The murine STING agonist DMXAA reduces intrathecal opioid-induced pruritus, without compromising opioids antinociception in mice. A Experimental design to test the anti-pruritus effect of DMXAA in the mouse model of intrathecal (i.t.) opioid-induced itch. B Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pre-administration of DMXAA attenuates i.t. morphine-induced scratching behaviors in a dose-dependent manner. n = 8 mice/group. C Morphine antinociception, assessed by Tail-flick test, is not impaired by DMXAA therapy. n = 8 mice/group. D Locomotor function, assessed by Rotarod test, is not impaired by DMXAA therapy. n = 6 mice/group. E Fentanyl- and F sufentanil-induced scratching behavior is alleviated by DMXAA treatment. n = 8 mice/group. G Fentanyl- and H sufentanil-induced analgesia is unaffected by DMXAA treatment. n = 8 mice/group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (B, E, F), and two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (C, D, G, H). Compared with group Saline, ^****P < 0.0001. n.s., not significant