Microbial derived antimicrobial peptides as potential therapeutics in atopic dermatitis

Front Immunol. 2023 Jan 25:14:1125635. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125635. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that significantly affects the patient's quality of life. A disrupted skin barrier, type 2 cytokine-dominated inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis with increased Staphylococcus aureus colonization are critical components of AD pathogenesis. Patients with AD exhibit decreased expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which is linked to increased colonization by Staphylococcus aureus. The skin microbiome itself is a source of several AMPs. These host- and microbiome-derived AMPs define the microbial landscape of the skin based on their differential antimicrobial activity against a range of skin microbes or their quorum sensing inhibitory properties. These are particularly important in preventing and limiting dysbiotic colonization with Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, AMPs are critical for immune homeostasis. In this article, we share our perspectives about the implications of microbial derived AMPs in AD patients and their potential effects on overlapping factors involved in AD. We argue and discuss the potential of bacterial AMPs as therapeutics in AD.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; antimicrobial peptides; atopic dermatitis; autoinducing peptides; bacteriocins; skin microbiome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimicrobial Peptides
  • Dermatitis, Atopic*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Quality of Life
  • Skin
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / pathology
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Peptides

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Sanofi Regeneron Type2 innovation grant and funding from City of Graz to VP; FWF (I 4939-B) -ANR (ANR-20-CE91-0002) International joint project to PW, J-FN, MV and VP. PhD student AJ was supported by Medical University of Graz, and PhD program MolMed. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.