A sympathetic-eosinophil axis orchestrates psychological stress to exacerbate skin inflammation

Science. 2026 Mar 19;391(6791):1269-1277. doi: 10.1126/science.adv5974. Epub 2026 Mar 19.

Abstract

Psychological stress is believed to exacerbate dermatitis, yet the neurobiological mechanisms linking stress to immune processes remain elusive. We identified a subset of prodynorphin-positive (Pdyn+) noradrenergic sympathetic neurons in mice that specifically innervate hairy skin, mediating stress-induced exacerbation of skin inflammation in an eosinophil-dependent manner. Genetic ablation of Pdyn+ sympathetic neurons or eosinophils mitigated stress-evoked worsening of inflammation in atopic dermatitis-like mice, whereas optogenetic activation of these neurons precipitated inflammation through eosinophils. Pdyn+ sympathetic neurons recruited eosinophils through the CCL11-CCR3 axis and activated them through the adrenergic receptor beta2 (Adrb2) in inflamed skin. Our findings reveal a neuroimmunological mechanism underlying psychological stress-induced exacerbation of dermatitis, emphasizing the Pdyn+ sympathetic-eosinophil axis as a crucial interface between the brain and skin inflammation, with potential therapeutic implications.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic Neurons* / immunology
  • Adrenergic Neurons* / metabolism
  • Adrenergic Neurons* / physiology
  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL11 / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL11 / metabolism
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / psychology
  • Eosinophils* / immunology
  • Eosinophils* / physiology
  • Inflammation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Optogenetics
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, CCR3 / metabolism
  • Skin* / immunology
  • Skin* / innervation
  • Stress, Psychological* / complications
  • Stress, Psychological* / immunology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System*

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Receptors, CCR3
  • Ccl11 protein, mouse
  • Ccr3 protein, mouse
  • Protein Precursors