Involvement of an axonal reflex in IgE-mediated inflammation in mouse skin

A neurogenic component of IgE-mediated inflammation was demonstrated in mice by footpad denervation. Footpad swelling was reduced 26% following sciatic nerve transection, but unaffected by rhizotomy or spinal nerve transection. These data provide in vivo evidence that an axonal reflex is involved in IgE-mediated inflammation and completed distal to the cell bodies of the sensory neurons located in the lumbar spinal ganglia. Furthermore, depletion of neuropeptides with capsaicin also reduced IgE-mediated swelling by 26%, indicating that unmyelinated axons are involved in the neurogenic component of IgE-mediated inflammation.