Neuro-immune interplay in candida albicans-induced itch mouse model

Summary: Abstract Body: “Itch-scratch cycle” is a debilitating feature that underlies a range of inflammatory dermatoses. Recently, skin has been recognized as a complex barrier organ capable of synchronizing neuronal and immune cells’ activation in response to microbiota. Candida albicans is a commensal fungus asymptomatically colonizing human barrier tissues including skin. It has been known that any skin barrier dysfunction leads to increased fungal load and subsequent activation of Th17 cells. However, the precise mechanisms of pruritis in C. albicans skin infection are yet to be discovered. Therefore, in this study we aimed to establish a murine model of C. albicans skin infection and assess itch behavioral phenotype. To evaluate the role of type 2 immune response in eliciting itch in C. albicans skin infection model, we examined C. albicans-specific IgE serum levels and confirmed its increase under daily epicutaneous treatment of mice with C. albicans. To further explore the precise mechanisms of pruritis and involvement of type 2 immune response in C. albicans-induced itch mouse model, we performed single cell RNA sequence analysis of mouse skin and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cell-cell interaction. Thus, this research aims to be one of the initial studies contributing to exploration of mechanisms underlying Candida albicans-induced itch sensation via single cell transcriptomic approach. Key words: Candida albicans, pruritis, neuro-immune interaction, dorsal root ganglion, type 2 immunity Alina Tyo¹, Kelun zhang¹, Hye Li Kim¹, Kyoungdo Mun¹, Nicole Bischof¹, Jiwoo Choi¹, Wan Jin Kim¹, Yeon Woo Jung¹, Chang Ook Park¹ 1. Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of). Adaptive and Auto-Immunity