Mast cells instruct keratinocytes to produce thymic stromal lymphopoietin: Relevance of the tryptase/protease-activated receptor 2 axis.

BACKGROUND

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) promotes T2 inflammation and is deeply intertwined with inflammatory dermatoses like atopic dermatitis. The mechanisms regulating TSLP are poorly defined.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether and by what mechanisms mast cells (MCs) foster TSLP responses in the cutaneous environment.

METHODS

Ex vivo and in vivo skin MC degranulation was induced by compound 48/80 in wild-type protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2)- and MC-deficient mice in the presence or absence of neutralizing antibodies, antagonists, or exogenous mouse MC protease 6 (mMCP6). Primary human keratinocytes and murine skin explants were stimulated with lysates/supernatants of human skin MCs, purified tryptase, or MC lysate diminished of tryptase. Chymase and histamine were also used. TSLP was quantified by ELISA, real-time quantitative PCR, and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTS

Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (Mrgprb2) activation elicited TSLP in intact skin, mainly in the epidermis. Responses were strictly MC dependent and relied on PAR-2. Complementarily, TSLP was elicited by tryptase in murine skin explants. Exogenous mMCP6 could fully restore responsiveness in MC-deficient murine skin explants. Conversely, PAR-2 knockout mice were unresponsive to mMCP6 while displaying increased responsiveness to other inflammatory pathways, such as IL-1α. Indeed, IL-1α acted in concert with tryptase. In primary human keratinocytes, MC-elicited TSLP generation was likewise abolished by tryptase inhibition or elimination. Chymase and histamine did not affect TSLP production, but histamine triggered IL-6, IL-8, and stem cell factor.

CONCLUSION

MCs communicate with kerationocytes more broadly than hitherto suspected. The tryptase/PAR-2 axis is a crucial component of this cross talk, underlying MC-dependent stimulation of TSLP in neighboring kerationocytes. Interference specifically with MC tryptase may offer a treatment option for disorders initiated or perpetuated by aberrant TSLP, such as atopic dermatitis.