Abstract
Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent dermatitis which is characterized clinically by atopic dry skin and functionally by cutaneous barrier disruption even in the non-lesional skin. These abnormalities have been thought to be mainly attributable to significantly decreased levels of ceramides even in the non-lesional stratum corneum. Recently, in association with the barrier disruption in atopic dermatitis skin, prevalent and rare loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin have been reported to be an important pre-disposing factor for the development of atopic dermatitis. However, a mechanistic connection between filaggrin loss-of-function mutations and barrier disruption has not been resolved and remains controversial. This review article explores the physiological and biochemical basis for the atopic dermatitis phenotype in terms of the barrier abnormality and associated factors such as ceramides and its metabolites in the following sequence: (1) Clinical characteristics as a recurrent dermatitis (2) Abnormality in cutaneous permeability barrier function (3) Is barrier disruption a cause or a result of dermatitis? (4) Is the barrier abnormality inherent or not? (5) Role of ceramides (6) Transglutaminase or filaggrin mutations and barrier disruption (7) Contribution of the barrier abnormality to the Th1/Th2 balance (8) Th1/Th2 balance and ceramide deficiency (9) S. aureus colonization and ceramide deficiency (10) Is the ceramide deficiency inherent or not? (11) Inflammation as a causative factor that downregulates ceramide generation, (12) Biological mechanisms underlying the ceramide deficiency (13) Clinical efficacy of ceramide as a major role for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent dermatitis which is characterized clinically by atopic dry skin and functionally by cutaneous barrier disruption even in the non-lesional skin
Since transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is frequently evaluated as an indication of barrier function, is not necessarily a precise reflection of cutaneous permeability, we determined whether chemical penetration is really enhanced or not in the nonlesional skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients compared with healthy control (HC) skin [5]
To determine whether disrupted barrier function in the nonlesional skin of AD patients is associated with pre-inflammatory and/or postinflammatory events, which are relevant to the severity of AD or local dry skin properties, respectively, we evaluated the barrier function and the water content of nonlesional forearm skin and compared these with the severity of AD [6]
Summary
Role of Ceramide in the Barrier Function of the Stratum Corneum: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.