CRTH2-dependent, STAT6-independent induction of cedar pollen dermatitis

Airborne contact dermatitis to cedar pollen is a recently identified disease that generally affects individuals with cedar pollinosis of the nasal and/or ocular symptoms, as well as some patients with atopic dermatitis.

To elucidate the pathological mechanisms of cedar pollen dermatitis.

We established a mouse model of cedar pollen dermatitis by epicutaneous sensitization with Japanese cedar pollen antigen (Ag).

Histologically, there was marked dermal cellular infiltrate, including eosinophils and mast cells, with epidermal thickening. The induction of dermatitis was accompanied by production of cedar pollen-specific IgE. In the lesional skin, IL-13, IL-18, eotaxin/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 11, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted/CCL5, macrophage-derived chemokine/CCL22 and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17, but not IL-4 and IFN-gamma, were produced. Mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice failed to develop cedar pollen dermatitis, although regional lymph node cells proliferated in response to Cryptomeria japonica (Cry j) 1 and Cry j2 Ags in vitro. Surprisingly, the induction of dermatitis was independent of STAT6/IgE. In contrast, mice deficient in CRTH2, a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), showed diminished inflammation. Consistent with this, ramatroban, a CRTH2 antagonist, significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration.

These data suggest that PGD2-CRTH2 signalling contributes to inflammation in cedar pollen dermatitis, and unlike cedar pollinosis of the nasal mucosa, STAT6 is not a therapeutic target for treatment.