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JACI Highlights - July 2007
Howell et al - Cytokine modulation of AD filaggrin skin expression
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease associated with dry, itchy red skin and is caused by an abnormality in the skin's protective barrier. Filaggrin is a protein needed to maintain the skin barrier function and is controlled by a specific gene. Studies have shown that mutations of this gene occur in AD patients. Howell and colleagues recently studied AD patients to see if filaggrin is reduced in those who did not have the gene mutation and whether filaggrin is affected by the allergic immune response. The researchers report in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology that, compared to normal skin, the expression of filaggrin is significantly reduced in AD skin. They also found that the atopic immune response contributes to the AD skin barrier defect. This suggests that therapies for control of the allergic response could improve skin barrier function in AD patients.
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