Skin-projecting nociceptors as gate-keepers of neutrophil-driven damage during contact dermatitis – NEUROSHIELD

The use of high throuput transcriptomic and highly multiplexed imaging technics will allow us to better understand neuroimmune interactions in mouse model of ACD and in biopsies of patients suffering from ACD

We expect that this project will make several key advancements in the contribution of nociceptors in the regulation of skin homeostasis.

This project should bring invaluable information on the mechanisms of neuro-immune interactions, give rise to high-level publications, patent-protected discoveries and, most importantly, potential new therapeutic options for ACD, and perhaps other disorders in which nociceptors are suspected to play an important role.

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Sensing and integration of environmental cues (e.g., presence of contact allergens or tissue damage) by skin-resident structural, neuronal and immune cells allow to trigger appropriate response and maintain homeostasis. Dysregulation of this equilibrium can contribute to the development of allergic skin inflammation, including allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We and others have shown that, in addition to modulate sensations, sensory neurons also have the potential to influence immune cells and associated inflammation. In the project proposed herein, we combine knowledge in neurobiology, immunology, computational analyzes and clinical dermatology to precisely define the roles of interactions between skin sensory neurons and immune cells in mouse models of ACD-like disease and in patients with clinically-established ACD from Toulouse and Lyon hospitals. This work will provide new knowledge on neuro-immune interactions and has the potential to identify new therapeutic options in ACD.