Circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor correlate with disease severity in the intrinsic type of atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shed light on the complex regulation of genetic, environmental, immunologic and pharmacologic factors, which contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, it is still unclear to which extent neuroimmune mediators have a role in AD.


OBJECTIVE
To assess peripheral neurotrophin levels and their correlation with scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) scores in both the intrinsic and extrinsic types of AD compared with patients with psoriasis and nonatopic healthy subjects.


METHODS
Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were assessed in peripheral blood with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on IgE-mediated sensitization, AD was divided into the extrinsic and intrinsic type. Severity of AD was assessed with SCORAD score and with psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) in patients with psoriasis.


RESULTS
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NGF were detectable in all the subjects studied. However, the levels of both neurotrophins were significantly higher in patients with extrinsic and intrinsic types of AD compared with patients with psoriasis and nonatopic healthy subjects (NGF: P < 0.001, BDNF: P < 0.001). NGF and BDNF levels were similar in the intrinsic and extrinsic type of AD. There was a significant correlation between BDNF and SCORAD score only in patients with the intrinsic type of AD (r = 0.57, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows for the first time that NGF and BDNF are increased in both, the extrinsic type and the intrinsic type of AD. This finding points to a similar pathophysiologic background implicating a neuroimmune network in both variants of this chronic inflammatory skin disease. Future studies are needed to show the direct mechanisms of neurotrophin action in chronic inflammatory skin.
Raap
U
U
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hannover Medical University, Hannover, Germany.
Werfel
T
T
Goltz
C
C
Deneka
N
N
Langer
K
K
Bruder
M
M
Kapp
A
A
Schmid-Ott
G
G
Wedi
B
B
D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor