Single-cell RNA sequencing defines disease-specific differences between chronic nodular prurigo and atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Chronic nodular prurigo (CNPG) is an inflammatory skin disease that is maintained by a chronic itch-scratch cycle likely rooted in neuroimmunological dysregulation. This condition may be associated with atopy in some patients, and there are now promising therapeutic results from blocking type 2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-13, and IL-31.

Objectives: This study aimed to improve the understanding of pathomechanisms underlying CNPG as well as molecular relationships between CNPG and atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: We profiled skin lesions from patients with CNPG in comparison with AD and healthy control individuals using single-cell RNA sequencing combined with T-cell receptor sequencing.

Results: We found type 2 immune skewing in both CNPG and AD, as evidenced by CD4⁺ helper T cells expressing IL13. However, only AD harbored an additional, oligoclonally expanded CD8A⁺IL9R⁺IL13⁺ cytotoxic T-cell population, and immune activation pathways were highly upregulated in AD, but less so in CNPG. Conversely, CNPG showed signatures of extracellular matrix organization, collagen synthesis, and fibrosis, including a unique population of CXCL14^-IL24⁺ secretory papillary fibroblasts. Besides known itch mediators such as IL31 and oncostatin M, we also detected increased levels of neuromedin B in fibroblasts of CNPG lesions compared with AD and HC, with neuromedin B receptors detectable on some nerve endings.

Conclusions: These data show that CNPG does not harbor the strong disease-specific immune activation pathways that are typically found in AD but is rather characterized by upregulated stromal remodeling mechanisms that might have a direct impact on itch fibers.

Keywords: Prurigo nodularis; atopic dermatitis; atopic prurigo; chronic nodular prurigo; chronic prurigo; itch; pruritus; single-cell RNA sequencing.