House dust mites activate nociceptor-mast cell clusters to drive type 2 skin inflammation

Nat Immunol. 2019 Nov;20(11):1435-1443. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0493-z. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

Abstract

Allergic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, are clinically characterized by severe itching and type 2 immunity-associated hypersensitivity to widely distributed allergens, including those derived from house dust mites (HDMs). Here we found that HDMs with cysteine protease activity directly activated peptidergic nociceptors, which are neuropeptide-producing nociceptive sensory neurons that express the ion channel TRPV1 and Tac1, the gene encoding the precursor for the neuropeptide substance P. Intravital imaging and genetic approaches indicated that HDM-activated nociceptors drive the development of allergic skin inflammation by inducing the degranulation of mast cells contiguous to such nociceptors, through the release of substance P and the activation of the cationic molecule receptor MRGPRB2 on mast cells. These data indicate that, after exposure to HDM allergens, activation of TRPV1+Tac1+ nociceptor-MRGPRB2+ mast cell sensory clusters represents a key early event in the development of allergic skin reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / immunology*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / immunology*
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nociceptors / immunology*
  • Nociceptors / metabolism
  • Pyroglyphidae / immunology*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / immunology
  • TRPV Cation Channels / metabolism
  • Tachykinins / genetics
  • Tachykinins / metabolism

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Mrgprb2 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 protein, mouse
  • Tachykinins