Single-cell transcriptome profile of mouse skin undergoing antigen-driven allergic inflammation recapitulates findings in atopic dermatitis skin lesions

Background: Allergic skin inflammation elicited in mice by epicutaneous (EC) sensitization with antigen shares characteristics with human atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: We characterized gene expression by single cells in mouse skin undergoing antigen-driven allergic inflammation and compared the results with findings in AD skin lesions.

Methods: Mice were EC sensitized by application of ovalbumin (OVA) or saline to tape-stripped skin. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on skin cells 12 days later. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to validate results.

Results: Sequencing identified 7 nonhematopoietic and 6 hematopoietic cell subsets in EC-sensitized mouse skin. OVA sensitization resulted in the expansion in the skin of T cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, mast cells/basophils, fibroblasts, and myocytes cell clusters, and in upregulation of T_H2 cytokine gene expression in CD4⁺ T cells and mast cells/basophils. Genes differentially expressed in OVA-sensitized skin included genes important for inflammation in dendritic cells and macrophages, collagen deposition, and leukocyte migration in fibroblasts, chemotaxis in endothelial cells and skin barrier integrity, and differentiation in KCs-findings that recapitulate those in AD skin lesions. Unexpectedly, mast cells/basophils, rather than T cells, were the major source of Il4 and ll13 in OVA-sensitized mouse skin. In addition, our results suggest novel pathways in fibroblast and endothelial cells that may contribute to allergic skin inflammation.

Conclusion: The gene expression profile of single cells in mouse skin undergoing antigen-driven shares many features with that in AD skin lesions and unveils novel pathways that may be involved in allergic skin inflammation.