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Review
. 2011 Jul;242(1):233-46.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2011.01027.x.

Atopic dermatitis: a disease of altered skin barrier and immune dysregulation

Mark Boguniewicz  1 , Donald Y M Leung
Affiliations
Review

Atopic dermatitis: a disease of altered skin barrier and immune dysregulation

Mark Boguniewicz et al. Immunol Rev. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an important chronic or relapsing inflammatory skin disease that often precedes asthma and allergic disorders. New insights into the genetics and pathophysiology of AD point to an important role of structural abnormalities in the epidermis as well as immune dysregulation not only for this skin disease but also for the development of asthma and allergies. Patients with AD have a unique predisposition to colonization or infection by microbial organisms, most notably Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus. Measures directed at healing and protecting the skin barrier and addressing the immune dysregulation are essential in the treatment of patients with AD, and early intervention may improve outcomes for both the skin disease as well as other target organs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Complex pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis including barrier and immune abnormalities
Reproduced with permission from: Barnes KC. An update on the genetics of atopic dermatitis: scratching the surface in 2009. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010;125:16–29 [Figure 5A].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Filaggrin products, e.g. PCA, contribute to natural moisturizing factor and inhibit growth of Staphylococcus aureus. (Reproduced with permission from: O’Regan GM et al. Filaggrin in atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;122:689–93 [Figure 1]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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