Atopic Dermatitis Group Research Articles

Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease After Atopic Dermatitis Development: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study.

Despite increasing evidence for the potential association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), results have still remained controversial. Therefore, this study investigated the association between AD and subsequent CVDs in adults newly diagnosed with AD. Datasets from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort in South Korea from 2002 to 2015 were analyzed. The primary outcome was new-onset CVD, which included angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any revascularization procedure. The crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated in the AD group compared with the matched control group using the Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 40,512 individuals with AD were matched with 40,512 control subjects without AD. The overall incidence of CVDs was 2,235 (5.5%) and 1,640 (4.1%) in the AD and matched control groups, respectively. In the adjusted model, AD was associated with an increased risk of CVDs (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.33-1.52), angina pectoris (adjusted HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.36-1.63), myocardial infarction (adjusted HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.15-1.70), ischemic stroke (adjusted HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.20-1.49), and hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.52). Most of the subgroup and sensitivity analysis results were consistent with those of the main analysis. The current study found that adult patients newly diagnosed with AD were at significantly increased risk for subsequent CVDs, suggesting the need to consider early prevention strategies for CVDs targeting patients with AD.

Double-layered PLGA/HA microneedle systems as a long-acting formulation of polyphenols for effective and long-term management of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder that requires long-term treatment to achieve optimal control. Topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors are the mainstay of treatment, but the safety and efficacy of their daily use remain a concern. Here, we report a double-layered poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/sodium hyaluronate (HA) microneedle (MN) patch as a long-acting formulation for sustained delivery of natural polyphenols, curcumin (CUR) and gallic acid (GA), into the inflamed skin. Upon insertion into the skin, the HA layer is rapidly dissolved within 5 min for triggering GA release; the PLGA tip is embedded into the dermis for sustained release of CUR for 2 months. Initially, CUR and GA are simultaneously released from the MNs to exert synergistic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thus promptly relieving AD symptoms. After the complete release of GA, the extended CUR release can maintain the improvement obtained for at least 56 days. Our results revealed that compared with the CUR-only MN and untreated AD groups, the administration of CUR/GA-loaded MNs not only rapidly reduced the dermatitis score from Day 2 but also significantly inhibited epidermal hyperplasia and mast cell accumulation, reduced serum IgE and histamine levels, and downregulated reactive oxygen species production in the skin lesions of Nc/Nga mice on Day 56. These findings demonstrated that the double-layered PLGA/HA MN patch can serve as an effective dual-polyphenol delivery system for rapid and long-term management of AD.

Issues of specific <i>in vitro</i> allergological diagnosis of atopic conditions

There is a steady increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases of atopic origin worldwide, e.g., atopic bronchial asthma (ABA) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Identification of a causally significant allergen in allergic patients is crucial for the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of allergic diseases. Korea has developed the Allergy-Q multiplex test to detect specific IgE. Allergy-Q is based on an immunoblotting method using a nitrocellulose membrane as a solid phase for allergen immobilization and can detect allergen-specific IgE simultaneously to 107 allergens. Our aim was to conduct a comparative analysis for detectable allergen-specific IgE antibodies to food, fungal, pollen, household, epidermal allergens in blood serum by immunoblotting method using the Allergy-Q test system in patients with atopic dermatitis, atopic bronchial asthma and psoriasis.
 The study included patients with atopic dermatitis (AD, group 1, n = 9), atopic bronchial asthma (ABA, group 2, n = 14) and psoriasis (PS, group 3, n = 17). The concentration of total immunoglobulin E and allergen-specific immunoglobulins of class E in blood serum to 32 most common food, fungal, pollen, household, epidermal allergens was determined by the immunoblotting method using the Allergy-Q test system (Korea).
 We have found that sensitization of atopic origin was observed in all patients with AD (n = 9), in 85.7% (n = 12) of patients with atopic bronchial asthma, and in 47.1% (n = 8) of patients with psoriasis. Polyvalent sensitization was shown to prevail in all groups of the examined persons. When studying the spectrum of sensitization to food allergens, a significantly increased frequency of positive reactions to cows milk protein was found in the group of patients with AAA as compared with AD and PS groups. Among all studied groups, sensitization to the Alternaria fungi was found at the highest frequency in the group of patients with ABA. Sensitization to ragweed pollen was very common in all groups of patients. Sensitization to household and epidermal allergens in the groups with AD and AAA was noted for all studied allergens with the highest positivity rates for the feline epithelium and dog dander.
 In the present study, the Allergy-Q system showed an agreement with preliminary data from a specific allergological examinations. This relationship suggests a potential for usage of the Allergy-Q immunoblotting method as a highly effective alternative to other in vitro tests for diagnosing atopy. An advantage of the Allergy-Q Multiplex Serum Allergen-Specific IgE Detection Kit is a short processing time, small amount of blood sample, and broader clinical information on the causative allergens.

Long-term effects of ciclosporin and oclacitinib on mediators of tolerance, regulatory T-cells, IL-10 and TGF-β, in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dogs often are managed with allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) and concurrent dosages of ciclosporin (CSA) or oclacitinib to alleviate their clinical signs. Both drugs might affect proper tolerance induction by inhibiting regulatory T-cell (Treg) induction. We evaluated Treg cell numbers and serum interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)1 levels in dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD) and successfully treated with either CSA or oclacitinib for nine or more months. We included 15 dogs receiving oclacitinib, 14 dogs treated with CSA, 15 healthy dogs, 13 dogs with untreated moderate-to-severe AD and 15 atopic dogs controlled with AIT. Peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T-cell percentages were determined using flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of Treg cells in the CSA group was significantly lower in comparison with the healthy group (p=0.0003), the nontreated AD group (p=0.0056) or the AIT group (p=0.0186). There was no significant difference in Treg cell percentages between the CSA and oclacitinib groups, nor between the oclacitinib and the healthy, nontreated AD or AIT-treated dogs. No significant differences were detected in IL-10 and TGF-β1 serum concentrations between the five groups. Lower Treg cell percentages in the CSA-treated dogs suggest an impact of this drug on this cell population; however, it does not necessarily mean that it diminishes tolerance. Functionality and cytokine production may be more important than the number of Treg cells. Further studies evaluating the treatment outcome of dogs receiving AIT and concurrent drugs are needed to show clinical relevance.

The associations of maternal and children's gut microbiota with the development of atopic dermatitis for children aged 2 years.

It is critical to investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in the development of atopic dermatitis. The microbiota hypothesis suggested that the development of allergic diseases may be attributed to the gut microbiota of mother-offspring pairs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among maternal-offspring gut microbiota and the subsequent development of atopic dermatitis in infants and toddlers at 2 years old. A total of 36 maternal-offspring pairs were enrolled and followed up to 2 years postpartum in central China. Demographic information and stool samples were collected perinatally from pregnant mothers and again postpartum from their respective offspring at the following time intervals: time of birth, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Stool samples were sequenced with the 16S Illumina MiSeq platform. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the differences in gut microbiota between the atopic dermatitis group and control group. Our results showed that mothers of infants and toddlers with atopic dermatitis had higher abundance of Candidatus_Stoquefichus and Pseudomonas in pregnancy and that infants and toddlers with atopic dermatitis had higher abundance of Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group at birth, Ruminococcus_gauvreauii_group at 1 year and UCG-002 at 2 years, and lower abundance of Gemella and Veillonella at 2 years. Additionally, the results demonstrated a lower abundance of Prevotella in mothers of infants and toddlers with atopic dermatitis compared to mothers of the control group, although no statistical difference was found in the subsequent analysis. The results of this study support that gut microbiota status among mother-offspring pairs appears to be associated with the pathophysiological development of pediatric atopic dermatitis.

Real-Time Infrared Spectroscopic Measurement of Natural Moisturizing Factor

Real-Time Infrared Spectroscopic Measurement of Natural Moisturizing Factor

Limosilactobacillus reuteri FN041 prevents atopic dermatitis in pup mice by remodeling the ileal microbiota and regulating gene expression in Peyer's patches after vertical transmission.

ObjectivesLimosilactobacillus reuteri FN041 is a potential probiotic bacterium isolated from breast milk in traditional farming and pastoral areas of China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the optimal intervention mode and potential mechanism of FN041 to prevent atopic dermatitis (AD) in mice.MethodsIn intervention mode I, FN041 was supplemented to dams during the late trimester and lactation and pups after weaning; in intervention mode II, FN041 was supplemented after pups were weaned. AD was induced in pups with MC903 plus ovalbumin on the ear after weaning.ResultsThe effect of intervention mode I in preventing AD was significantly better than that of intervention mode II. Compared with the model group, the inflammatory response of the pup’s ears, the proportion of spleen regulatory T cells and the plasma IgE were significantly decreased in mice in intervention mode I. Furthermore, the intestinal mucosal barrier was enhanced, and the Shannon index of the ileal microbiota was significantly increased. The microbiota structure deviated from the AD controls and shifted toward the healthy controls according to the PCoA of unweighted UniFrac. The relative abundances of Limosilactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia in the ileum were significantly increased compared to the AD group. Based on RNA-seq analysis of pups’ Peyer’s patches (PPs), FN041 inhibits autoimmune pathways such as asthma and systemic lupus erythematosus and activates retinol metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways to reduce inflammatory responses. Intervention mode II also significantly reduced AD severity score, but the reduction was approximately 67% of that of intervention mode I. This may be related to its ineffective remodeling of the ileal microbiota.ConclusionPrenatal and postnatal administration of FN041 is an effective way to prevent AD in offspring, and its mechanism is related to remodeling of ileal microbiota and PPs immune response.

A Heat-Killed Probiotic Mixture Regulates Immune T Cells Balance and IgE Production in House Dust Mite Extraction-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease accompanied with severe itching and skin lesions. Current studies have demonstrated that probiotics can exert an immunomodulatory effect, improve epithelial barrier function, and normalize the composition of gut microbiota. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotics on the immune balance of AD in vivo. We first screened two lactic acid bacteria strains, which were Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MP01 and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei MP02, from 10 strains isolated from traditional fermented milk with inflammation regulating activities in vitro. In the house dust mite (HDM) extraction-induced AD mouse model, mice were assigned randomly to four groups: control group (PC), HDM-induced AD group (NC), HDM-induced AD mice with administration of a mixture of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 at a low concentration (LD), and high concentration (HD) groups. Compared with the NC group, the probiotic treatments could relieve the AD symptoms. Moreover, the LD group significantly decreased total and HDM-specific IgE concentration. These results indicated that a combination of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 strains modulated the proportion of IL4+CD4+ T cells and IFNγ+CD4+ T cells in the spleen of HDM extraction-induced AD mice. In conclusion, administration of the heat-killed MP01 and MP02 mixtures appeared to relieve the classic AD signs, decrease serum IgE concentration, and rebalance the population of Th1/Th2 cells in HDM extraction-induced AD mice. The immunomodulatory activities of a combination of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 provided a potential new therapeutic strategy against AD.

P127 Cytokine gene Polymorphism in superficial Malassezia associated skin diseases

Poster session 1, September 21, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Objectivesü To isolate and characterize Malassezia species from patients of Pityriasis Versicolor (PV), Atopic Dermatitis (AD), Seborrhoeic Dermatitis (SD), and healthy controls.ü To study single nucleotide polymorphism in IL-10 and IFN- γ genes of the host and its relation with susceptibility to Malassezia infection.MethodsIt was a prospective observational study done in University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi. Sample size comprised of 38 cases each of AD. Skin scrapings were used for fungal culture on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Modified Dixon Agar (MDA) and isolates were identified as per conventional phenotypic methods. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and Cytokine genotyping was carried out by Amplification Refractory Mutations System-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR) with sequence-specific primers. Three SNPs (IL10-1082A/G; IL10-819/592C/T; IFN-g +874A/T) in two cytokine genes were assessed in all the patients and healthy controls. Chi-squared Test or Fisher's-Exact Test and Bonferroni's correction were used for statistical analysisResults Malassezia yeast was isolated in 94.7%, 63.1% each and 52.6% in PV, AD, SD, and healthy controls respectively. Malassezia globosa was the most commonly isolated species from both patient and healthy control. Malassezia sympodialis was the second most common followed by M. furfur and M. restricta. Association between specific cytokine gene polymorphism and clinical outcome was found to be significant in PV, AD, and SD group. IFN-γ +874 T allele and IFN-γ +874 A allele were significantly associated with PV and AD respectively. IFN-γ +874 AA genotype frequency was found to be higher in PV and AD patients than in controls. This finding suggests that PV and AD patients may produce a lower IFN-γ. IL10-819/592 C/T alleles were also significantly associated with PV. IL10-819/592 CT genotype frequency was found to be lower, and CC genotype frequency was found to be higher in PV patients as compared to healthy controls, suggesting that IL10 production may be higher in PV patients. AD patients were more likely to carry the IL10–1082 G allele and, it was significantly associated with this disease. Moreover, IL10-1082 AG genotype was significantly associated with AD and SD, which corresponds to high production of IL10.ConclusionThe identification of Malassezia yeast to a species level is of a great importance to determine which species are implicated in certain skin diseases.The use of phenotypic methods for identification of Malassezia species is a reliable, easily executed method, that is also inexpensive. Molecular methods are necessary to decrease the turnaround time, especially for slow-growing Malassezia species.Cytokine gene polymorphism studies in IL10 and IFN γ genes demonstrated susceptibility of host to Malassezia infections. Comparison with the serum cytokine levels will help in understanding the evolution of Malassezia infections in susceptible host.Population genetics studies require inclusion of a larger number of subjects to evaluate the probability or the frequency of occurrence of the genotype.

Neurodevelopment at 6 years of age in children with atopic dermatitis

BackgroundFew studies have reported an association between atopic dermatitis and cognitive impairment in children. Therefore, we evaluated the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and neurodevelopmental dysfunction in children. MethodsWe analyzed 2,395,966 children born between 2008 and 2012 in Korea. All data were acquired from the databases of the Korean National Health Insurance System. AD was defined as five or more diagnoses before age 24 months. The outcome was suspected neurodevelopmental dysfunction in the gross motor skill, fine motor skill, cognition, language, sociality, and self-care domains of the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children at age 6 years. The positive control outcome was defined as attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The associations were assessed using ordinal logistic regression, adjusting for asthma and allergic rhinitis. ResultsAmong the eligible children, 89,452 and 30,557 were allocated to the control and AD groups, respectively. In the weighted data, the AD group showed a higher risk of suspected neurodevelopmental dysfunction in the total score (weighted adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] 1.10 [1.05–1.16]), gross motor skills (1.14 [1.04–1.25]), and fine motor skills (1.15 [1.06–1.25]) than the control group. The AD with steroids or hospitalization groups showed an increased risk of suspected neurodevelopmental dysfunction. In addition, the AD group showed a significant association with mental retardation, psychological development disorder, and behavioral and emotional disorders as well as ADHD. ConclusionsAD before age 2 years may be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental dysfunction including gross and fine motor skills in the young childhood period.

National Information Campaign Revealed Disease Characteristic and Burden in Adult Patients Suffering from Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease often associated with a significant impairment in the quality of life of affected patients. The Italian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SIDeMaST) planned a national information campaign, providing direct access to 27 dermatologic centers dedicated to the management of AD. The aim of this study aimed was to outline critical aspects related to AD in the general population. Overall, 643 adult subjects were included in this study, and in 44.2% (284/643) of cases, a diagnosis of AD was confirmed, whereas about 55% of subjects were affected by other pruritic cutaneous diseases. Higher intensity of pruritus and sleep disturbance, as well as an increased interference in sport, work, and social confidence was reported in the AD group compared to the non-AD group. In the AD subgroup, the mean duration of disease was of 15.3 years, with a mean eczema area and severity index (EASI) score of 11.2, and investigator global assessment (IGA) score of 1.9 and an itch numeric rating scale (NRS) of 6.9. Almost 32% of patients were untreated, either with topical or systemic agents, whereas 44.3% used routine topical compounds (topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors), and only 7.0% of patients were systemically treated. Only 2.8% of patients reported complete satisfaction with the treatment received for AD to date. This study reveals a profound unmet need in AD, showing a poorly managed and undertreated patient population despite a high reported burden of disease. This suggests the usefulness of information campaigns with the goal of improving patient awareness regarding AD and facilitating early diagnosis and access to dedicated healthcare institutions.

Associations between rs2241766 and rs3774261 polymorphisms in ADIPOQ gene and atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition that affects both children and adults. Adipokines have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. In the current study, the association between adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms and AD was investigated. In addition, changes in serum adiponectin levels in AD patients were examined. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR technique was used to genotype ADIPOQ SNPs. The ELISA assay was used to measure serum Adiponectin levels. A total of 324 participants (162 AD and 162 healthy controls) were included in the study. The frequency of the GG genotype of rs3774261 was higher in the AD group (44.5%) than in the control group (32.7%, P<0.05). Regarding the rs2241766 SNP, the frequency of the GG genotype was higher in the AD group (10.5%) than in the control group (3.1%), while the frequency of the TT genotype was lower (P<0.001) in the AD group (35.8%) than the control group (57.4%). Moreover, the GG haplotype of rs3774261 and rs2241766 significantly increased the risk of AD by about 2-fold (P<0.05). Finally, serum adiponectin levels were lower in the AD group than in the control group (P<0.05). These results indicate an association of the rs2241766 and rs3774261 SNPs with the risk of developing AD among the population examined.

The abundance of Ruminococcus bromii is associated with faecal butyrate levels and atopic dermatitis in infancy.

Impaired microbial development and decreased levels of short chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, is suggested to have a role in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). Faecal microbiota composition, abundance of selected bacterial groups and fermentation metabolites were compared at 90, 180 and 360 days of life between 27 children who developed AD by age one (AD group), and 39 controls (non-AD group) among the CARE (Childhood AlleRgy, nutrition and Environment) study cohort. Diversity within the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phylum in the faecal microbiota was lower in the AD group compared to the non-AD group. Longitudinal analysis showed multiple amplicon sequence variants (ASV) within the same bacterial family to be differentially abundant. Namely, Ruminococcus bromii, a keystone primary starch degrader, and Akkermansia muciniphila, a mucin-utilizer, had lower abundance among the AD group. Children with AD were less likely to have high levels of faecal butyrate at 360 days compared to those without AD (11.5% vs 34.2%). At 360 days, children with high abundance of R. bromii had higher level of butyrate as well as lower proportion of children with AD compared to children with low abundance of R. bromii (11.1-12.5% vs 44.4-52.5%), which was independent of the abundance of the major butyrate producers. Our results suggested that R. bromii and other primary degraders might play an important role in the differences in microbial cross-feeding and metabolite formation between children with and without AD, which may influence the risk of developing the disease.

Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis Have Lower Peak Exercise Load Capacity and Exercise Volume Compared with Unaffected Peers.

Background: Sweating and increased skin temperature caused by exercise can reduce physical activity and the willingness to exercise in adolescents with atopic dermatitis. This study was conducted to investigate the exercise load capacity of adolescents with atopic dermatitis and analyzed their exercise behavior and motivation. Methods: Adolescents with and without atopic dermatitis were assigned to the atopic dermatitis group and control group (n = 27 each). Both groups completed a cardiopulmonary exercise test and questionnaires to assess their exercise capacity, weekly exercise volume, exercise motivation, and self-efficacy, respectively. Results: The ratio of measured forced vital capacity to the predicted forced vital capacity and the peak oxygen consumption of the atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire scores of the atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group. As for the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2, the scores for the introjected and identified regulations of the atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Regarding the Multidimensional Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale, the scheduling efficacy and total scores of the atopic dermatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group. Conclusions: Adolescents with atopic dermatitis had lower peak exercise capacity and lower weekly exercise volume. Furthermore, they lacked the negative feelings toward inactivity and the self-confidence to plan regular exercise independently. The results of this study suggest that adolescents with atopic dermatitis should be encouraged to engage in regular indoor exercise.

Ameliorative effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate nanoparticles on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene induced atopic dermatitis: A potential mechanism of inflammation-related necroptosis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common autoimmune and chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease with a relapsing-remitting course. Necroptosis is a regulated necrotic cell death mediated by receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), which is activated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). However, the mechanism and the role of necroptosis have not been delineated in AD progression. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main biological activity of tea catechin, is well known for its beneficial effects in the treatment of skin diseases. Here, PEG-PLGA-EGCG nanoparticles (EGCG-NPs) were formulated to investigate the bioavailability of EGCG to rescue cellular injury following the inhibition of necroptosis after AD. 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was used to establish AD mouse models. As expected, topically applied EGCG-NPs elicited a significant amelioration of AD symptoms in skin lesions, including reductions in the ear and skin thickness, dermatitis score, and scratching behavior, which was accompanied by redox homeostasis restored early in the experiment. In addition, EGCG-NPs significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in a time-dependent manner than those of in AD group. As a result, the overexpression of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL in the entire epidermis layers was dramatically blocked by EGCG-NPs, as well as the expression ofphosphorylated p38 (p-p38), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2). These findings promote that EGCG-NPs formulation represents a promising drug-delivery strategy for the treatment of AD by maintaining the balance of Th1/Th2 inflammation response and targeting necroptosis.

Stratum Corneum Ceramide Profiles Provide Reliable Indicators of Remission and Potential Flares in Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Prevention of exacerbation of AD is a crucial issue for all physicians. However, exacerbation of AD often is seen during reduction of AD treatment, even with appropriate follow-up by tapered topical corticosteroids and daily topical moisturizers, indicating the need for good indicators of AD remission. We hypothesized that the presence of mutations in FLG or the stratum corneum ceramide profile on AD remission phase may predict the ease of AD exacerbation. This study examined the differences in the frequency of FLG mutations or stratum corneum ceramide profiles (stratum corneum levels and carbon chain length for 11 ceramide classes [ceramides containing nonhydroxy fatty acids and dihydrosphingosines; nonhydroxy fatty acids and sphingosines; nonhydroxy fatty acids and 6-hydroxysphingosines; nonhydroxy fatty acids and phytosphingosines; a-hydroxy fatty acids and dihydrosphingosines; a-hydroxy fatty acids and sphingosines; a-hydroxy fatty acids and 6-hydroxysphingosines; a-hydroxy fatty acids and phytosphingosines; ester-linked fatty acids, o-hydroxy fatty acids, and sphingosines; ester-linked fatty acids, o-hydroxy fatty acids, and 6-hydroxysphingosines; and ester-linked fatty acids, o-hydroxyfatty acids, and phytosphingosines]) at AD remission phase between the two AD study groups: subsequent exacerbation (‒) and (+) of AD. The frequency of FLG mutations did not differ between the study groups. On the other hand, the carbon chain lengths of ceramides containing nonhydroxy fatty acids and dihydrosphingosines, nonhydroxy fatty acids and sphingosines, and nonhydroxy fatty acids and 6-hydroxysphingosines were shorter in the exacerbated AD group than in the maintained-AD group. Thus, the stratum corneum ceramide profile at the remission phase of AD is a potential biomarker, predicting the likelihood of substantial AD remission or subsequent AD exacerbation.

Acupoint Autohemotherapy Attenuates Atopic Dermatitis Lesions by Regulating Th1/Th2 Balance in DNCB-Induced BALB/c Mice.

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupoint autohemotherapy (A-AHT) on 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in mice focusing on regulating T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) immune responses. Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups by a random number table, including normal control (NC), AD model (AD), A-AHT, sham A-AHT (sA-AHT), and acupoint injection of normal saline (A-NS) groups, 6 mice per group. Mice were challenged by DNCB for the establishment of experimental AD model. On the 8th day, except for the NC and AD groups, the mice in the other groups received management once every other day for a total of 28 days. For the A-AHT and sA-AHT groups, 0.05 mL of autologous whole blood (AWB) was injected into bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Quchi (LI 11) and sham-acupoints (5 mm lateral to ST 36 and LI 11), respectively. The A-NS group was administrated with 0.05 mL of normal saline by acupoint injection into ST 36 and LI 11. Dermatitis severity for dorsal skin of mice was determined using the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) every week. The total immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) cytokine levels in serum were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Spleen Th1/Th2 expression were analyzed via flow cytometry and immunohistochemical assay was used to detect T-box expressed in T cell (T-bet) and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) expressions in skin lesions of mice. Compared with the AD group, both A-AHT and sA-AHT reduced the SCORAD index and serum IgE level (P<0.05 or P<0.01); A-AHT, sA-AHT and A-NS down-regulated serum IL-4 level and upregulated IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05 or P<0.01); A-AHT regulated the Th1/Th2 shift specifically and increased the related transcription factors such as T-bet expression and T-bet/GATA3 ratio (P<0.05). A-AHT showed significant effectiveness on the AD model mice, through regulating Th1/Th2 immune responses.

The Difference of Gut Microbiota and Their Correlations With Urinary Organic Acids Between Autistic Children With and Without Atopic Dermatitis.

Autism is a kind of biologically based neurodevelopmental condition, and the coexistence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is not uncommon. Given that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the development of both diseases, we aimed to explore the differences of gut microbiota and their correlations with urinary organic acids between autistic children with and without AD. We enrolled 61 autistic children including 36 with AD and 25 without AD. The gut microbiota was sequenced by metagenomic shotgun sequencing, and the diversity, compositions, and functional pathways were analyzed further. Urinary organic acids were assayed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and univariate/multivariate analyses were applied. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to explore their relationships. In our study, AD individuals had more prominent gastrointestinal disorders. The alpha diversity of the gut microbiota was lower in the AD group. LEfSe analysis showed a higher abundance of Anaerostipes caccae, Eubacterium hallii, and Bifidobacterium bifidum in AD individuals, with Akkermansia muciniphila, Roseburia intestinalis, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Rothia mucilaginosa in controls. Meanwhile, functional profiles showed that the pathway of lipid metabolism had a higher proportion in the AD group, and the pathway of xenobiotics biodegradation was abundant in controls. Among urinary organic acids, adipic acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, tartaric acid, homovanillic acid, 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, aconitic acid, and 2-hydroxyhippuric acid were richer in the AD group. However, only adipic acid remained significant in the multivariate analysis (OR = 1.513, 95% CI [1.042, 2.198], P = 0.030). In the correlation analysis, Roseburia intestinalis had a negative correlation with aconitic acid (r = -0.14, P = 0.02), and the latter was positively correlated with adipic acid (r = 0.41, P = 0.006). Besides, the pathway of xenobiotics biodegradation seems to inversely correlate with adipic acid (r = -0.42, P = 0.18). The gut microbiota plays an important role in the development of AD in autistic children, and more well-designed studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanism.

Evaluation the Effectiveness of Phenolic Compound of Salvia Frigida on Induced Atopic Dermatitis in Experimental Mice

Abstract&#x0D; To evaluate the effectiveness of Phenolic Compound of Salvia Frigida on induced atopic dermatitis (AD) of mice. Forty mice were included in the study, divided in to four groups (10 mice/group): apparently healthy, induced AD without treatment, induced AD treated with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment, and induced AD treated with Phenolic Compound of Salvia Frigida cream 5%. Examination of histopathology was done and skin homogenates levels also measured. Levels of WBC, Eosinophil, skin tissue homogenate of IL-13 and IL-4, serum IgE, and histopathological scores were significantly increased among induced non treated AD group in comparison with control group. Comparisons of non-treated induced AD group with Salvia Frigida or Tacrolimus treated groups; shows a significant reduction in the levels of all studied parameters’ (WBC, Eosinophil, skin tissue homogenate of IL4- and IL-13, serum IgE, observational severity score, and histopathological scores) after the application of Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. While after application of phenolic compound cream 5%, its shows a significant reduction in the levels of all parameters except these of (eosinophil, IgE, and IL-13). Comparison between the effect of topical application of tacrolimus and phenolic compound on the studied variables shows that the levels of epidermal thickness was significantly lower after application of phenolic compound among studied groups, while the levels of WBC and inflammatory cell were significantly lower after application of tacrolimus among studied groups. Using of these therapeutic agents that targeting IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 will probably useful in treatment of AD.

Expression of galectin-13 in allergic diseases involving airway, skin and mucous membranes

To detect the expression of galectin-13 in allergic diseases and provide a new way for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. A retrospective analysis method was used to screen 216 patients with allergic diseases with house dust mites or aspergillus as allergens who visited the Department of Allergy and Department of Respiratory of Tongji Hospital attached Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from March 2018 to May 2021. These allergic diseases included allergic asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic urticaria. 25 subjects without underlying diseases were selected as healthy controls. The galectin-13 content in serum in each group were detected, and the Pearson correlation was used to determine the correlation between the galectin-13 content in serum in each group and blood eosinophil count, blood specific IgE, the score scale of allergic disease. The expression of Galectin-13 was increased in allergic asthma group (71.44±39.44) pg/ml, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis group (100.10±47.62) pg/ml, allergic rhinitis group (54.11±24.81) pg/ml and dermatitis group (44.12±19.51) pg/ml. The expression of galectin-13 was not significantly increased in allergic urticaria group (32.75±10.29) pg/ml and the allergic conjunctivitis group (30.55±9.87) pg/ml. The galectin-13 content in serum, was positively correlated with blood eosinophil count(rs=0.54, P<0.001) and house dust mite specific IgE (rs=0.51, P<0.001) in allergic asthma group, and was positively correlated with blood eosinophil count(rs=0.63, P=0.025) and aspergillus fumigatus specific IgE (rs=0.58, P=0.046) in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis group. It was positively correlated with blood eosinophil count (rs=0.52, P=0.000 2) and house dust mite specific IgE (rs=0.41, P=0.005) in allergic rhinitis group. In allergic conjunctivitis group, the expression of galectin-13 was positively correlated with conjunctivitis symptom score (rs=0.47, P=0.048). In atopic dermatitis group, the expression of galectin-13 was positively correlated with blood eosinophil count (rs=0.58, P<0.001) and house dust mite specificity IgE (rs=0.47, P=0.002). In allergic urticaria group, the expression of galectin-13 was not significantly correlated with blood eosinophil count or house dust mite specific IgE. Galectin-13 may be related to the occurrence and progress of allergic diseases and may be involved in the occurrence of eosinophilic inflammation.