Merkel cells and neurons keep in touch

•Merkel cells are touch-sensitive cells that transduce touch via Piezo2 channels.•The Merkel cell–neurite complex contains two sensory receptor cell types.•Merkel cells and neurons together mediate different aspects of touch responses.

The Merkel cell–neurite complex is a unique vertebrate touch receptor comprising two distinct cell types in the skin. Its presence in touch-sensitive skin areas was recognized more than a century ago, but the functions of each cell type in sensory transduction have been unclear. Three recent studies demonstrate that Merkel cells are mechanosensitive cells that function in touch transduction via Piezo2. One study concludes that Merkel cells, rather than sensory neurons, are principal sites of mechanotransduction, whereas two other studies report that both Merkel cells and neurons encode mechanical inputs. Together, these studies settle a long-standing debate on whether or not Merkel cells are mechanosensory cells, and enable future investigations of how these skin cells communicate with neurons.