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

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. Gaudenzio and colleagues show that house dust mite extracts directly activate TRPV1 + sensory neurons, which promote allergic skin inflammation by inducing the degranulation of mast cells through the release of the neuropeptide substance P and activation of MRGPRB2.