Skin DNA methylation profile in atopic dermatitis patients: A case–control study

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, immune-mediated dermatosis. Approximately 10%-20% of children and 1%-3% of adults suffer from this disease in developed countries. [1][2][3] AD generally develops in individuals with a polygenic inherited predisposition under the influence of external and internal triggers and is accompanied by several immunological complications. [4][5][6] Many loci affecting genetic predisposition to AD have been identified. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] However, it is impossible to explain the predisposition to AD by only considering its genetic component. The mechanisms underlying the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the development of AD are not yet fully understood. However, alterations in DNA methylation status have been discussed as a possible cause for the manifestation of many dermatoses. [14] The involvement of epigenetic misregulation in disease pathology has been observed in the skin and/or blood of patients with psoriasis, [15] systemic lupus erythematosus [16][17][18] and vitiligo. [19] Studies on DNA methylation in AD are rare. It is known that the DNA methylation profile of T-lymphocytes differs in patients with AD and psoriasis. [20] Some studies have shown significant differences in the DNA methylation status of individual immune

Mouse models of atopic dermatitis: a critical reappraisal

“…neurodermatitis) is one of the most common and chronic human inflammatory skin diseases whose pathogenesis remains insufficiently clear and for which no curative therapy is currently available. [1][2][3] As a key representative of the small group of so-called "atopic" diseases, AD carries a high burden of disease for affected individuals and their families, and is often triggered or aggravated by psychoemotional stress. 4,5 Since AD steadily increases in incidence and absorbs major health care resources, the development of optimized AD therapeutics that combine efficiency with long-term safety and affordability, especially for children with AD, 6 remains a major unmet challenge.…”

“…Atopic dermatitis (AD; syn. neurodermatitis) is one of the most common and chronic human inflammatory skin diseases whose pathogenesis remains insufficiently clear and for which no curative therapy is currently available 1‐3 . As a key representative of the small group of so‐called “atopic” diseases, AD carries a high burden of disease for affected individuals and their families, and is often triggered or aggravated by psychoemotional stress 4,5 .…”

Recent progress at the psoriasis and atopic dermatitis research front: An experimental dermatology perspective

“…Genome‐wide DNA methylation profile study found that differential DNA methylation in the genes belongs to a number of AD‐related processes including immune response regulation, lymphocyte activation, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, suggesting that DNA methylation is an additional predisposing factor for AD 44 …”

Skin epigenetics

“…Previous work has revealed that there are both shared and unique epigenetic mechanisms at work in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. 52 Cristina de Guzman Strong and colleagues provide an overview of our current understanding of epigenetics in atopic dermatitis. 53 The authors point out that the prevalence of atopic dermatitis has tripled in the past 30 years in industrial countries, raising the possibility that environmental effects, acting through epigenetic mechanisms, maybe at work.…”