Atopic dermatitis in adults: changes in skin barrier and Th17 and Th22 cell-mediated immune response

• Grant number: 11/02453-7
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: June 01, 2011 - September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal researcher: Valeria Aoki
• Grantee: Valeria Aoki
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Maria Notomi Sato ; Mariana Colombini Zaniboni ; Raquel Leão Orfali

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory chronic skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and xerosis. AD has a complex ethiopatogenesis, which involves the influence of genetics, environment, immunological disorders, among others. AD has been described as a cutaneous barrier disease, with altered physical barrier that may lead/enhance its immunologic disfunction. This project aims to evaluate the effects of the skin barrier defects and the influence of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins A and B (SEA and SEB) inTh17 and Th22 cell response in skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in adult AD patients from our hospital. Skin barrier defects in adults with AD will be analyzed in skin biopsies through immunohistochemistry analysis of the molecules involved in epidermal cell attachment, water flow control, and salt/water retention. Initial focus will be the expression of filaggrin, an important protein linked to epidermal permeability, followed by claudins, essential in cell differentiation, and in keratinization. Claudins belong to the tight junction group, responsible for the selective flow of intercellular substances. The immunologic function will be evaluated by inflammatory cytokines linked to the disease, such as: IL-17, IL-22, IL-23 (Th17 and Th22), and IFN-gamma both in skin and PBMC. Morevoer, their possible relationship with exogenous antigens like Staphylococcus aureus A and B enterotoxins by Real-time PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry will also be analyzed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BATISTA, D. I. S.; PEREZ, L.; ORFALI, R. L.; ZANIBONI, M. C.; SAMORANO, L. P.; PEREIRA, N. V.; SOTTO, M. N.; ISHIZAKI, A. S.; OLIVEIRA, L. M. S.; SATO, M. N.; et al. Profile of skin barrier proteins (filaggrin, claudins 1 and 4) and Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in adults with atopic dermatitis. JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY, v. 29, n. 6, p. 1091-1095, JUN 2015. (11/02453-7)

ORFALI, RAQUEL L.; SATO, MARIA N.; SANTOS, VANESSA G.; TITZ, TIAGO O.; BRITO, CYRO A.; DUARTE, ALBERTO J. S.; TAKAOKA, ROBERTO; AOKI, VALERIA. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces specific IgG4 and IgE antibody serum levels in atopic dermatitis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, v. 54, n. 8, p. 898-904, AUG 2015. (11/02453-7)