The Role of Mast Cells in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Prurigo

Chronic prurigo (CPG) is a highly itchy skin condition with unclear pathophysiology. The promising therapeutic effects of the tyrosine kinase KIT antibody barzolvolimab in an early-stage clinical trial have highlighted the crucial role of mast cells in the pathophysiology of CPG. This review discusses the important bidirectional crosstalk between mast cells and skin nerves, inflammatory cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts for initiating and maintaining the itch signal in CPG. In addition, we review mast cell–targeted treatments in CPG and explore future directions.