Phenotypic and Endotypic Determinants of Atopic Dermatitis Severity From the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN) Registry

Yu-Ping-Feng-San alleviates inflammation in atopic dermatitis mice by TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yu-Ping-Feng-San (YPF) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has therapeutic effects on allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. However, its potential efficacy and mechanism in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been extensively illustrated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and possible mechanisms of YPF in AD pathogenesis.

METHODS

Network pharmacology and GEO data mining were adopted to firstly identify the potential mechanisms of YPF on AD. Then DNCB induced-AD murine model was established to test the efficacy of YPF and verify its effects on inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB pathway. In addition, molecular docking was performed to detect the binding affinity of YPF's active components with NF-κB pathway related molecules.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology and human data mining suggested that YPF may act on the NF-κB pathway in AD pathogenesis. With DNCB mice model, we found that YPF significantly improved AD symptoms, reduced SCORAD scores, and alleviated skin tissue inflammation in mice. At the same time, the expression of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, sPLA2-IIA and IL-6, was down-regulated. Moreover, YPF suppressed TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in situ in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking further confirmed that seven compounds in YPF had exceptional binding properties with TNF-α, IL-6 and TLR4.

CONCLUSION

YPF may help the recovery of AD by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, which provides novel insights for the treatment of AD by YPF.

Berdazimer gel for molluscum contagiosum in patients with atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVE

Controlling molluscum contagiosum (MC) infections is critical in atopic dermatitis (AD) management. This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of berdazimer gel, 10.3% (topical, antiviral, nitric oxide-releasing medication) versus vehicle in MC patients with or without AD.

METHODS

Three Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group trials (B-SIMPLE[berdazimer sodium in molluscum patients with lesions]1, -2, -4) enrolled patients 6 months and older with 3-70 mollusca. Berdazimer or vehicle was applied once daily to all MC lesions for 12 weeks. Data from three Phase 3 studies were integrated for subgroup efficacy and safety assessments using several weighted meta-analysis approaches. Patients with concurrent AD or a history of AD/eczema were categorized as AD+ subgroup (AD- when absent). Primary efficacy endpoint: complete lesion clearance at Week 12. Safety endpoints included adverse events (AEs) through Week 24 and local skin reactions through Week 12.

RESULTS

Of 1598 enrolled patients, 209 (13.1%) were AD+. Baseline mean lesion counts were greater in AD+ (26.4) than AD- (19.3). Complete clearance rates were higher at Week 12 for berdazimer compared with vehicle in AD+ (n = 209; 35.0% vs. 27.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% CI, 0.7-2.5) and AD- (n = 1389; 29.1% vs. 18.9%; OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.4) subgroups. AEs in AD+ were application-site pain (21.6% with berdazimer vs. 11.9% with vehicle), dermatitis (12.8% vs. 2.4%), and erythema (9.6% vs. 7.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Berdazimer gel showed favorable efficacy regardless of AD status. Berdazimer-induced erythema may be indistinguishable from AD symptoms or with inflammatory response upon resolution of molluscum.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) guidelines: 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters GRADE- and Institute of Medicine-based recommendations

BACKGROUND

Guidance addressing atopic dermatitis (AD) management, last issued in 2012 by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force, requires updating as a result of new treatments and improved guideline and evidence synthesis methodology.

OBJECTIVE

To produce evidence-based guidelines that support patients, clinicians, and other decision-makers in the optimal treatment of AD.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary guideline panel consisting of patients and caregivers, AD experts (dermatology and allergy/immunology), primary care practitioners (family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine), and allied health professionals (psychology, pharmacy, nursing) convened, prioritized equity, diversity, and inclusiveness, and implemented management strategies to minimize influence of conflicts of interest. The Evidence in Allergy Group supported guideline development by performing systematic evidence reviews, facilitating guideline processes, and holding focus groups with patient and family partners. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach informed rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations. Evidence-to-decision frameworks, subjected to public comment, translated evidence to recommendations using trustworthy guideline principles.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 25 recommendations to gain and maintain control of AD for patients with mild, moderate, and severe AD. The eAppendix provides practical information and implementation considerations in 1-2 page patient-friendly handouts.

CONCLUSION

These evidence-based recommendations address optimal use of (1) topical treatments (barrier moisturization devices, corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors [crisaborole], topical JAK inhibitors, occlusive [wet wrap] therapy, adjunctive antimicrobials, application frequency, maintenance therapy), (2) dilute bleach baths, (3) dietary avoidance/elimination, (4) allergen immunotherapy, and (5) systemic treatments (biologics/monoclonal antibodies, small molecule immunosuppressants [cyclosporine, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, JAK inhibitors], and systemic corticosteroids) and UV phototherapy (light therapy).

A case of dupilumab combination therapy for exacerbation of atopic dermatitis in a patient with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis treated with mepolizumab

We report a 60-year-old male with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) complicated with atopic dermatitis (AD). The patient was initially treated with prednisolone, cyclosporine A, and mepolizumab (MEPO). Due to worsening skin symptoms after prednisolone tapering, dupilumab (DUP) was added as an adjunctive therapy for AD confirmed by skin biopsy. The combination therapy of MEPO and DUP resulted in rapid improvement of skin symptoms, suggesting it may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with EGPA and AD. This case report emphasises the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treating complex diseases such as EGPA and AD.

Bleach baths enhance skin barrier, reduce itch but do not normalize skin dysbiosis in atopic dermatitis

Studies have demonstrated that bleach baths improve atopic dermatitis (AD) severity; however, the effects on itch, skin barrier, and cutaneous microbial composition are less clear. We examined whether bleach baths reduce itch, normalize skin barrier function, reduce S. aureus absolute abundance, and increase microbial diversity in adults with AD who were colonized with S. aureus on their non-lesional skin. This was an open label, non-randomized, controlled trial performed at a single academic center. Fifteen AD and five non-atopic healthy controls (NA) were instructed to take two bleach baths (0.005% NaClO; 5-10 min duration) per week for a total of 12 weeks as add-on therapy. Adults 18 to 65 years (inclusive) with mild to severe AD were recruited with EASI score > 6.0, S. aureus culture positivity, access to a bathtub, and ability and willingness to maintain current topical or systemic treatments. They were evaluated at baseline (before bleach baths), 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention of twice-weekly bleach baths. Efficacy measurements included EASI as well as 5-D Pruritus and ItchyQoL™. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum (SC) integrity assay were performed to assess the skin barrier. Skin dysbiosis was measured by S. aureus cultivation, S. aureus abundance (qPCR of thermonuclease gene), and V1-V3 16S rRNA gene sequencing on non-lesional and lesional AD skin. After 12 weeks of bleach baths, 8/15 (53.3%) AD subjects achieved an EASI50 and a significant reduction in itch as measured by 5-D pruritus and Itchy QoL. Eighty-seven percent reported improvements in sleep quality. At study entry, AD subjects had higher non-lesional TEWL values than NA subjects, and only AD subjects experienced a reduction with bleach baths (p = 0.006). Similarly, SC integrity improved as early as 6 weeks after bleach baths in AD subjects. Notably, bleach baths had no significant effect on S. aureus culture-positivity, qPCR absolute abundance, or microbial diversity. The addition of twice-weekly bleach baths improves investigator-assessed AD severity, patient-reported pruritus and sleep as well as physiological measures of skin barrier function in adult AD subjects while having no effect on qualitative and quantitative measures of cutaneous S. aureus. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01996150, Date of registration: November 27th, 2013.

The impact of temperature on the skin barrier and atopic dermatitis

Climate change is a global threat to public health and causes or worsens various diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic, infectious, cardiovascular diseases, physical injuries, and mental disorders. The incidence of allergy, such as AD, has increased over the past several decades, and environmental factors such as climate change have been implicated as a potential mechanism. A substantial amount of literature has been published on the impact of climate factors, including cold and hot temperatures, on the skin barrier and AD. Studies in several countries have found a greater incidence of AD in children born in the colder seasons of fall and winter. The effect of cold and warm temperatures on itch, skin flares, increased outpatient visits, skin barrier dysfunction, development of AD, and asthma exacerbations have been reported. Understanding mechanisms by which changes in temperature influence allergies is critical to the development of measures for the prevention and treatment of allergic disorders, such as AD and asthma. Low and high temperatures induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators such as interleukin-1β, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and prostaglandin E2, and cause itch and flares by activation of TRPVs such as TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4. TRPV antagonists may attenuate temperature-mediated itch, skin barrier dysfunction, and exacerbation of AD.

Diseases from the Spectrum of Dermatitis and Eczema: Can "Omics" Sciences Help with Better Systematics and More Accurate Differential Diagnosis?

Researchers active in the field of inflammatory skin diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema are well aware of a considerable overlap in the clinical pictures and proposed sets of diagnostic criteria for these diseases, which can hardly be overcome through the clinical or epidemiological research. In effect, patients are included in studies based on vague and overlapping criteria, while heterogeneous study populations may, in turn, lead to non-representative outcomes and continued confusion. In this narrative review, a systematics of diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema is proposed based on the origins of causative factors and the pathomechanisms involved. Difficulties in differentiating between these diseases are discussed, and the extent to which advances in the "omics" sciences might help to overcome them is considered. Of all the "omics" research in this field, more than 90% of the published papers were devoted to atopic dermatitis, with a striking underrepresentation of other diseases from the spectrum of dermatitis and eczema, conditions which collectively exceed the rates of atopic dermatitis by far. A greater "omics" research effort is urgently needed to tackle other dermatitides, like allergic, irritant and protein contact dermatitis, as well as radiation, seborrheic, stasis or autoimmune dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis findings should be validated not only against healthy donors but also other dermatitides. A clinic-oriented approach is proposed for future "omics" studies in the field of dermatitis and eczema.