Stylised image: Urushiol (in green), the ‘active ingredient’ in poison ivy, entrapped by CD1a molecule (in pink), which mediates the inflammatory response. Credit: Imaging CoE
Finding the molecular cause of this irritation brings us a step closer to designing agents to block this mechanism and sheds light on other serious skin conditions, such as psoriasis. The international team of scientists have shown, for the first time, a connection between an immune molecule found in the skin and skin sensitisers. Professor Jamie Rossjohn with Dr Florian Winau, Harvard Medical School, confirmed the body’s immune molecule, CD1a, plays a crucial role in mediating skin inflammation and irritation after contact with urushiol – the ‘active ingredient’ found in plants endemic to Northern America and parts of Europe and Australia.
“A complex set of experiments, coupled with imaging techniques at the Australian Synchrotron revealed the molecular interplay between CD1a and urushiol. This highlights CDIa’s role in sudden and uncomfortable skin reactions,” Professor Rossjohn says.
“Our results were strengthened by in vivo and clinical studies at Harvard Medical School, in the United States,” Dr Yongqing says. The studies in Boston also showed that blocking the function of CD1a prevents the triggering of this skin-based allergic reaction, giving the researchers further evidence of just how important CD1a is.
“Future research could lead to the development of new treatments to combat minor skin irritations as well as chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema and rosacea,” says Dr Yongqing.
“We now have a target to further investigate. Our basic discovery may make a big difference in the future treatment and prevention of inflammatory skin diseases,” Dr Le Nours concludes. http://imagingcoe.org/unscratching-poison-ivy/
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