Small afferent nerve fibers control skin inflammation. (120.27)

Abstract

Abstract Recent advances in the realm of the skin inflammation have made clear that diseases such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis cannot be considered as purely immunological because cutaneous peripheral nerve fibers have been shown to play a role in both skin diseases. We have generated some exciting preliminary data in which we observed that local peripheral nerves regulate skin inflammation in animal models of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (CHS). We have elucidated that in particular, small efferent nerve fibers play an important role in controlling the initiation and determining the magnitude of skin inflammation. Moreover, this effect occurs very promptly even before resident dendritic cells are activated and migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes. We are currently elucidating the mechanisms by which small nerve fibers interact with the skin associated immune system which may lead to new therapeutic targets to treat skin inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.