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Differential Expression of Proteins Involved in Skin Barrier Maintenance and Vitamin D Metabolism in Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional, Exploratory Study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder influenced by proteins involved in skin barrier maintenance and vitamin D metabolism. This study compares protein expression in intra-lesional (IL) and peri-lesional (PL) skin biopsies from AD patients and examines associations between protein levels, vitamin D status, and clinical features. Forty-four biopsies from 22 AD patients were analyzed using antibody microarrays targeting 12 proteins. IL samples had significantly higher total protein levels than PL samples, with a mean difference of 77.7% (p<0.001). Several proteins, including cathelicidin, cingulin, occludin, filaggrin, and the vitamin D receptor, were upregulated in IL samples. Patients with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml showed higher expression of CYP24A (p=0.054), alpha-catenin (p=0.043), and haptoglobin (p=0.033). Increased EASI scores (≥16) were associated with elevated expression of CYP24A (p=0.024), CYP27B (p=0.044), filaggrin (p=0.027), occludin (p=0.049), and claudin-1 (p=0.052). Multivariate regression analysis identified significant correlations between protein expression, skin prick test (SPT) positivity, and low vitamin D levels. These findings suggest that proteins related to epithelial barrier function and vitamin D metabolism are highly upregulated in IL skin regions, offering potential therapeutic targets for improving both skin barrier function and overall disease severity in AD patients.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms26010211