Hairy cells in the nose called brush cells may be involved in causing allergies

In mice, these cells trigger inflammation when exposed to mold and dust

Brush cells in the lining of a mouse’s olfactory bulb

Brush cells (green) are abundant in the lining of a mouse’s olfactory bulb, which senses odors. The cells help detect invaders, including ones linked to allergies.

S. Ualiyeva et al/Science Immunology 2020

Some hairy cells in the nose may trigger sneezing and allergies to dust mites, mold and other substances, new work with mice suggests.