Biomarkers in atopic dermatitis-a review on behalf of the International Eczema Council

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common yet complex skin disease, posing a therapeutic challenge with increasingly recognized different phenotypes among variable patient populations. Because therapeutic response may vary on the basis of heterogeneous clinical and molecular phenotypes, a shift toward precision medicine approaches may improve AD management. Herein, we will consider biomarkers as potential instruments in the toolbox of precision medicine in AD and will review the process of biomarker development and validation, the opinion of AD experts on the use of biomarkers, types of biomarkers, encompassing biomarkers that may improve AD diagnosis, biomarkers reflecting disease severity, and those potentially predicting AD development, concomitant atopic diseases, or therapeutic response, and current practice of biomarkers in AD. We found that chemokine C-C motif ligand 17/thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, a chemoattractant of T_H2 cells, has currently the greatest evidence for robust correlation with AD clinical severity, at both baseline and during therapy, by using the recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation approach. Although the potential of biomarkers in AD is yet to be fully elucidated, due to the complexity of the disease, a comprehensive approach taking into account both clinical and reliable, AD-specific biomarker evaluations would further facilitate AD research and improve patient management.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; CCL17/TARC; CCL18/pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine; CCL22/MDC; CCL26/eotaxin-3; CCL27/CTACK; IL-13; IL-22; IgE; International Eczema Council; biomarker; eosinophils.

FIG 1.

Potential biomarkers for AD in nonlesional and lesional AD skin (using both biopsies and tape-strips, top) as well as circulating potential biomarkers in blood of patients with AD (bottom). LDH, Lactate dehydrogenase.