Fig. 2. Pharmacological ablation of nociceptors abolishes capsaicin-induced exacerbation of rosacea-like dermatitis.

A Diagram of the experimental paradigm in A–E. Nociceptor ablation and induction of rosacea-like skin inflammation. Mice were treated with DMSO or RTX and rested for 4 weeks and then with capsaicin or vehicle on day -1 before intradermal injection of LL37 in mice. B Representative photo and HE staining. C Redness score, area of erythema and skin thickness (n = 3 or 4 mice for each group). D mRNA levels of rosacea-characteristic factors (n = 6 for each group). E CD4⁺ T cells infiltration and CD31⁺ microvasculature in the skin of vehicle- or capsaicin-treated RTX mice after LL37 injection. The quantitative analysis of CD4⁺ T cells and CD31⁺ microvasculature from pictures originally magnified ×20 (n = 5 for each group). F Diagram of the experimental paradigm in (G–J). Mice were co-administered capsaicin with QX314 (100 μM) on day -1 before intradermal injection of LL37. G Representative photo and HE staining and (H) The redness score, area of erythema and skin thickness (n = 3 or 4 for each group) and (I) The mRNA levels of rosacea-characteristic factors (n = 6 for each group) and (J) The CD4⁺ T cells infiltration and the CD31⁺ microvascular in the skin of vehicle or capsaicin-treated QX314 mice after LL37 injection (n = 5 for each group). C–E and H–J Data represent the mean ± SEM. ns, p > 0.05. Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test was used.