A research group at Yamanashi University has uncovered the mechanism by which hives are caused by tight fitting clothing such as belts or underwear.
Urticaria occurs when a type of immune cell in the skin called mast cells (fat cells) is activated by some kind of stimulus and releases a chemical called histamine. Various stimuli such as stress, allergens, temperature, and light can induce urticaria, but it is well known that everyday factors such as tightness from belts and underwear can cause urticaria. However, the mechanism by which the physical stimulus (pressure) of tightness activates mast cells and releases histamine was completely unknown.
This research group found that when a protein (cytokine) called IL-33, which is widely increased in lesions of allergic diseases, acts on mast cells, it induces the expression of PIEZO1, a pressure sensor protein that detects touch, hearing, balance, etc., about 20 times stronger than normal. As a result, it was revealed that the mechanism by which the sensitivity of mast cells to physical stimuli (pressure) increases, causing even minor tactile stimuli to activate mast cells and release histamine, inducing itching and inflammation.
This result is an important discovery that shows the mechanism by which urticaria is induced at the pressure points by physical stimuli such as tightness from belts or underwear. In fact, when IL-33 was injected into mouse skin to stimulate PIEZO1, it was confirmed that even a slight pressure tactile stimulus that does not normally cause itching in mice induced itch behavior in the mice.
It is hoped that this finding will lead to the development of new treatments for urticaria that focus on inhibiting IL-33 in the future.
Paper information:【Allergy】IL-33 sensitizes mast cells to Piezo1 stimulation leading to degranulation
