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Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals dysregulated fibroblast subclusters in prurigo nodularis
  • +24
  • Shawn G. Kwatra,
  • Jay Patel,
  • Marina Z. Joel,
  • Kevin K. Lee,
  • Anusha Kambala,
  • Hannah L. Cornman,
  • Olusola O. Oladipo,
  • Matthew Taylor,
  • Brenda Umenita Imo,
  • Emily Z. Ma,
  • Jaya Manjunath,
  • Alexander Kollhoff,
  • Junwen Deng,
  • Varsha Parthasarathy,
  • Karen Cravero,
  • Melika Marani,
  • Mindy Szeto,
  • Ryan Zhao,
  • Sreenidhi Sankararaman,
  • Ruixiang Li,
  • Shanae Henry,
  • Thomas Pritchard,
  • Vito Rebecca,
  • Madan M. Kwatra,
  • Won Jin Ho,
  • xinzhong dong,
  • Sewon Kang
Shawn G. Kwatra
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jay Patel
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Marina Z. Joel
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Kevin K. Lee
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Anusha Kambala
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Hannah L. Cornman
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Olusola O. Oladipo
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Matthew Taylor
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Brenda Umenita Imo
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Emily Z. Ma
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Jaya Manjunath
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Alexander Kollhoff
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Junwen Deng
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Varsha Parthasarathy
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Karen Cravero
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Melika Marani
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Mindy Szeto
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Ryan Zhao
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Sreenidhi Sankararaman
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Ruixiang Li
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Shanae Henry
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Thomas Pritchard
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Vito Rebecca
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Madan M. Kwatra
Duke University Department of Anesthesiology
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Won Jin Ho
Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
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xinzhong dong
Johns Hopkins University Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience
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Sewon Kang
Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Dermatology
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Abstract

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic, inflammatory skin disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. Methods: We performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of 28,695 lesional and non-lesional PN cells. Results: Lesional PN has increased dysregulated fibroblasts (FBs) and myofibroblasts. FBs in lesional PN were shifted towards a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-like phenotype, with POSTN+WNT5A+ CAFs increased in PN, and similarly so in squamous cell carcinoma. A multi-center cohort study revealed an increased risk of SCC and CAF-associated malignancies (breast and colorectal) in PN patients. Systemic fibroproliferative diseases (renal sclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) were upregulated in PN patients. Ligand receptor analyses demonstrated a fibroblast neuronal axis with FB-derived WNT5A and periostin interactions with neuronal receptors MCAM and ITGAV. Compared to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, mesenchymal dysregulation is unique to PN with an intermediate Th2/Th17 phenotype. Conclusion: These findings identify a pathogenic and targetable POSTN+WNT5A+ fibroblast subpopulation that may predispose CAF-associated malignancies in PN patients.