Cutaneous nociception: role of keratinocytes.

Recent years have brought an enhanced understanding of keratinocyte contribution to cutaneous nociception. While intra-epidermal nerve endings were classically considered as the exclusive transducers of cutaneous noxious stimuli, it has now been demonstrated that epidermal keratinocytes can initiate nociceptive responses, like Merkel cells do for the innocuous mechano-transduction. In the light of recent in vivo findings, this article outlines this paradigm shift that points to a not yet considered population of sensory epidermal cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.