Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide promotes cutaneous dendritic cell functions in contact hypersensitivity.

Abstract Background Sensory nerves regulate cutaneous local inflammation indirectly through induction of pruritus and directly by acting upon local immune cells. The underlying mechanisms for how sensory nerves influence cutaneous acquired immune responses remain to be clarified. Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of peripheral nerves on cutaneous immune cells in cutaneous acquired immune responses. Methods We analyzed contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses as a murine model of delayed-type hypersensitivity in absence or presence of resiniferatoxin (RTX) -induced sensory nerve denervation. We conducted ear thickness measurements, flow cytometric analyses, and mRNA expression analyses in CHS. Results CHS responses were attenuated in mice that were denervated during the sensitization phase of CHS. By screening neuropeptides, we found that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) mRNA expression was decreased in the dorsal root ganglia after denervation. Administration of PACAP restored attenuated CHS response in RTX-treated mice, and pharmacological inhibition of PACAP suppressed CHS. Flowcytometric analysis of skin-draining lymph nodes showed that cutaneous dendritic cell (DC) migration and maturation were reduced in both denervated mice and PACAP antagonist-treated mice. The expression of chemokine receptors, CCR7 and CXCR4 of DCs was enhanced by addition of PACAP in vitro. Conclusion These findings indicate that a neuropeptide PACAP promotes the development of CHS responses by inducing cutaneous DC functions during the sensitization phase.