A mast cell-thermoregulatory neuron circuit axis regulates hypothermia in anaphylaxis

Sci Immunol. 2023 Mar 17;8(81):eadc9417. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adc9417. Epub 2023 Mar 17.

Abstract

IgE-mediated anaphylaxis is an acute life-threatening systemic reaction to allergens, including certain foods and venoms. Anaphylaxis is triggered when blood-borne allergens activate IgE-bound perivascular mast cells (MCs) throughout the body, causing an extensive systemic release of MC mediators. Through precipitating vasodilatation and vascular leakage, these mediators are believed to trigger a sharp drop in blood pressure in humans and in core body temperature in animals. We report that the IgE/MC-mediated drop in body temperature in mice associated with anaphylaxis also requires the body's thermoregulatory neural circuit. This circuit is activated when granule-borne chymase from MCs is deposited on proximal TRPV1+ sensory neurons and stimulates them via protease-activated receptor-1. This triggers the activation of the body's thermoregulatory neural network, which rapidly attenuates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis to cause hypothermia. Mice deficient in either chymase or TRPV1 exhibited limited IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, and, in wild-type mice, anaphylaxis could be recapitulated simply by systemically activating TRPV1+ sensory neurons. Thus, in addition to their well-known effects on the vasculature, MC products, especially chymase, promote IgE-mediated anaphylaxis by activating the thermoregulatory neural circuit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Allergens
  • Anaphylaxis*
  • Animals
  • Chymases
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia*
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Mast Cells
  • Mice
  • Neurons

Substances

  • Chymases
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Allergens