Stratum corneum profiles of inflammatory mediators in patch test reactions to common contact allergens and sodium lauryl sulfate

Abstract

Cytokine profiles in the SC of patch tested skin did not show a distinct allergen-specific pattern. However, MCI/MI induced a larger and wider immune response than the other allergens, perhaps due to its potency as an irritant. The levels of IL-16 were significantly increased in patch test reactions to allergens but not to SLS; thus, they may help clinicians to differentiate between allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis.

A minimally invasive tool to study immune response and skin barrier in children with atopic dermatitis

“…As IL‐1α is stored within the corneocyte, skin barrier damage leads to leakage of IL‐1α into the extracellular space. A similar effect was seen in irritant contact dermatitis, which is associated with skin barrier damage . IL‐1β and IL‐18 – two other IL‐1 family cytokines – also showed significant differences between healthy and lesional AD skin and between nonlesional and lesional AD skin.…”

Assessing the skin barrier via corneocyte morphometry

“…Possibly, a prolonged therapy scheme might be favourable, where not only the visible symptoms, but also the cellular barrier and its fine structure are taken into account. In a subsequent study, not only therapeutic (positive), but also irritant external (negative) influences could be monitored: when test persons were exposed to the standard detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), the DTI raised considerably within 72 hours by more than a factor of three. Interestingly, there was no elevation of DTI upon exposition to contact allergens nickel or chromium, even when erythema reaction was visible.…”

“…Interestingly, there was no elevation of DTI upon exposition to contact allergens nickel or chromium, even when erythema reaction was visible. Hence, the nanotexture assay is a candidate for discerning irritant from allergic reaction …”

Biomarkers in contact dermatitis

“…New data presented in this issue of the BJD indicate that while most inflammatory mediators identified in the skin are similar following challenge with allergens and irritants, one biomarker (interleukin 16) was specifically present only in allergic reactions . This is a new and promising observation, which merits further exploration.…”

“…Differentiating between irritant and allergic contact dermatitis has been a constant challenge and the idea that allergic contact dermatitis may be more than just one entity, depending on the specific allergen causing the reaction, has also been proposed. In this issue of the BJD , Koppes et al . have opened new doors in the study of contact dermatitis, by employing stratum corneum tape stripping and combining it with multiplex analysis, allowing for the identification of a profile of different biomarkers.…”