Every day we sense our environment. Unconsciously, we feel surrounding objects, other living organisms, and even temperature changes. External information is fundamental for our nervous system to perceive and adapt to the world around us, but the but the regulating mechanisms remained unveiled.

Thanks to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, we now know that skin receptors such as TRP-like receptors (Transient Receptor Potential) are the key to our perception of heat, cold and mechanical force. Their discoveries have been awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, on October the 4^th.

The press release is available on the Noble Prize website: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/press-release/

David Julius started its researches in the late 90th using capsaicin from chili peppers to identify the TRPV1 receptor, an ion channel activated by painful heat. He identified that communication to the nervous system is ensure by the neurotransmitter CGRP (Calcitonin Gene Related-Peptide). Reducing the release of CGRP can therefore reduce uncomfortable pain.

Given the importance to solve excessive pain and itching occurring in skin diseases such as atopic eczema, access to in vitro models became highly important to discover new curative ingredients. This is why StratiCELL (BE) and Neuron Experts (FR) recently join forces to develop a unique in vitro 3D sensory skin model of cocultured reconstructed human epidermis and human sensory neurons, respectively. In this combined model, human sensory neurons are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and are growing in the immediate vicinity of 3D reconstructed human epidermis.

In this system, a release of CGRP by human sensory neurons was measured after stimulation with capsaicin. This innovative skin model allows to study the soothing properties of dermo-cosmetic ingredients or formulated products, and opens the field of the “neuro-cosmetic” trend.

More technical informations are available on https://straticell.com/neurocosmetics/

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