title: Changes of antimicrobial peptides and transepidermal water loss after topical application of tacrolimus and ceramide-dominant emollient in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and downregulated antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Tacrolimus and ceramide-dominant emollients are effective in the treatment of AD by preventing the production of inflammatory cytokines and by correcting skin barrier dysfunctions, respectively. Present study was designed to investigate the relationship between antimicrobial and barrier factors by measuring the changes of AMPs and TEWL after topical application of tacrolimus and ceramide-dominant emollient in the patients with AD. A total of three patients with AD were treated with tacrolimus in one lesion and ceramide-dominant emollient in another lesion for 4 weeks. RT-PCR and western blotting revealed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of hBD-2 and LL-37 were increased on the both study sites. Immunohistochemical analysis showed significant increase of AMPs and IL-1alpha, while, IL-4 was decreased on the both study sites. The mean changes of TEWL and AMPs showed no statistical difference between both sites. Tacrolimus and ceramide-dominant emollient influence on both TEWL and AMPs expression in patients with AD, namely they have similar effects on both of the two. This study shows that restoration of permeability barrier function is accompanied by the concomitant improvement of antimicrobial defense in patients with AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kui Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Kapsok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Seong Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004643:Emollients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002518:Ceramides; D004643:Emollients; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus