title: Immunoglobulin E antibody reactivity to bacterial antigens in atopic dermatitis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 20% children and 9% adults world-wide. AD patients are often sensitized against a broad variety of allergens and more than 90% of them suffer from skin superinfections with Staphylococcus aureus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we searched for the presence of specific IgE antibodies against S. aureus and Escherichia coli antigens in AD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from AD patients (n=79), patients suffering only from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (n=41) or allergic asthma (n=37) were tested for IgE reactivity to nitrocellulose-blotted S. aureus, E. coli and gut bacterial antigens. IgE-reactive bacterial antigens were affinity purified and identified by mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 30% of AD patients but not patients suffering only from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma or non-allergic persons exhibited IgE binding to several protein antigens among them DNA-binding and ribosomal proteins and flagellin. Patients with severe skin manifestations showed more frequently IgE reactivity to S. aureus compared with AD patients with mild symptoms. Positive immediate and late skin test reactions could be induced in sensitized AD patients with S. aureus extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific IgE reactivities against a variety of bacterial antigens were observed in a subgroup comprising a third of AD patients and may contribute to allergic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reginald
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Westritschnig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werfel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heratizadeh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Focke-Tejkl
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: D Y M
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elisyutina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fedenko
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007073:Immunoglobulin E