The atopic dermatitis blood signature is characterized by increases in inflammatory and cardiovascular risk proteins

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 18;7(1):8707. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09207-z.

Abstract

Beyond classic "allergic"/atopic comorbidities, atopic dermatitis (AD) emerges as systemic disease with increased cardiovascular risk. To better define serum inflammatory and cardiovascular risk proteins, we used an OLINK high-throughput proteomic assay to analyze moderate-to-severe AD (n = 59) compared to psoriasis (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 18). Compared to controls, 10 proteins were increased in serum of both diseases, including Th1 (IFN-γ, CXCL9, TNF-β) and Th17 (CCL20) markers. 48 proteins each were uniquely upregulated in AD and psoriasis. Consistent with skin expression, AD serum showed up-regulation of Th2 (IL-13, CCL17, eotaxin-1/CCL11, CCL13, CCL4, IL-10), Th1 (CXCL10, CXCL11) and Th1/Th17/Th22 (IL-12/IL-23p40) responses. Surprisingly, some markers of atherosclerosis (fractalkine/CX3CL1, CCL8, M-CSF, HGF), T-cell development/activation (CD40L, IL-7, CCL25, IL-2RB, IL-15RA, CD6) and angiogenesis (VEGF-A) were significantly increased only in AD. Multiple inflammatory pathways showed stronger enrichment in AD than psoriasis. Several atherosclerosis mediators in serum (e.g. E-selectin, PI3/elafin, CCL7, IL-16) correlated with SCORAD, but not BMI. Also, AD inflammatory mediators (e.g. MMP12, IL-12/IL-23p40, CXCL9, CCL22, PI3/Elafin) correlated between blood and lesional as well as non-lesional skin. Overall, the AD blood signature was largely different compared to psoriasis, with dysregulation of inflammatory and cardiovascular risk markers, strongly supporting its systemic nature beyond atopic/allergic association.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proteomics
  • Psoriasis / blood
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Proteins