TY - JOUR

T1 - Skin biomarkers predict development of atopic dermatitis in infancy

AU - Rinnov, Maria Rasmussen

AU - Halling, Anne-Sofie

AU - Gerner, Trine

AU - Ravn, Nina Haarup

AU - Knudgaard, Mette Hjorslev

AU - Trautner, Simon

AU - Goorden, Susan M.

AU - Ghauharali-van der Vlugt, Karen J. M.

AU - Stet, Femke S.

AU - Skov, Lone

AU - Thomsen, Simon Francis

AU - Egeberg, Alexander

AU - Rosted, Aske L. L.

AU - Petersen, Troels

AU - Jakasa, Ivone

AU - Riethmuller, Christoph

AU - Kezic, Sanja

AU - Thyssen, Jacob P.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background There is currently no insight into biomarkers that can predict the onset of pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods Nested in a prospective birth cohort study that examined the occurrence of physician-diagnosed AD in 300 children, 44 random children with onset of AD in the first year of life were matched on sex and season of birth with 44 children who did not develop AD. Natural moisturizing factor (NMF), corneocyte surface protrusions, cytokines, free sphingoid bases (SBs) of different chain lengths and their ceramides were analyzed from tape strips collected at 2 months of age before onset of AD using liquid chromatography, atomic force microscopy, multiplex immunoassay, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, respectively. Results Significant alterations were observed for four lipid markers, with phytosphingosine ([P]) levels being significantly lower in children who developed AD compared with children who did not (median 240 pmol/mg vs. 540 pmol/mg, p < 0.001). The two groups of children differed in the relative amounts of SB of different chain lengths (C17, C18 and C20). Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) was slightly higher in children who developed AD, whereas NMF and corneocyte surface texture were similar. AD severity assessed by the eczema area and severity index (EASI) at disease onset was 4.2 (2.0;7.2). [P] had the highest prediction accuracy among the biomarkers (75.6%), whereas the combination of 5 lipid ratios gave an accuracy of 89.4%. Conclusion This study showed that levels and SB chain length were altered in infants who later developed AD, and that TARC/CCL17 levels were higher.

AB - Background There is currently no insight into biomarkers that can predict the onset of pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods Nested in a prospective birth cohort study that examined the occurrence of physician-diagnosed AD in 300 children, 44 random children with onset of AD in the first year of life were matched on sex and season of birth with 44 children who did not develop AD. Natural moisturizing factor (NMF), corneocyte surface protrusions, cytokines, free sphingoid bases (SBs) of different chain lengths and their ceramides were analyzed from tape strips collected at 2 months of age before onset of AD using liquid chromatography, atomic force microscopy, multiplex immunoassay, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, respectively. Results Significant alterations were observed for four lipid markers, with phytosphingosine ([P]) levels being significantly lower in children who developed AD compared with children who did not (median 240 pmol/mg vs. 540 pmol/mg, p < 0.001). The two groups of children differed in the relative amounts of SB of different chain lengths (C17, C18 and C20). Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) was slightly higher in children who developed AD, whereas NMF and corneocyte surface texture were similar. AD severity assessed by the eczema area and severity index (EASI) at disease onset was 4.2 (2.0;7.2). [P] had the highest prediction accuracy among the biomarkers (75.6%), whereas the combination of 5 lipid ratios gave an accuracy of 89.4%. Conclusion This study showed that levels and SB chain length were altered in infants who later developed AD, and that TARC/CCL17 levels were higher.

KW - atopic dermatitis

KW - biomarker

KW - birth cohort

KW - prediction

KW - skin barrier

KW - STRATUM-CORNEUM

KW - SERINE PALMITOYLTRANSFERASE

KW - BARRIER FUNCTION

KW - SPHINGOID BASES

KW - FILAGGRIN

KW - ECZEMA

KW - PHYTOSPHINGOSINE

KW - LEVEL

KW - QUANTIFICATION

KW - DEGRADATION

U2 - 10.1111/all.15518

DO - 10.1111/all.15518

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36112082

VL - 78

SP - 791

EP - 802

JO - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

JF - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

SN - 0105-4538

IS - 3

ER -