title: Juvenile obesity aggravates disease severity in a rat model of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is increasing epidemiological evidence of an association between childhood obesity and atopic dermatitis, but little is known about the underlying mechanism(s). In the present study, we used a rat model of atopic dermatitis to assess whether juvenile obesity, induced by reduction of litter size, aggravated the signs of atopic dermatitis and, if so, whether this aggravation was associated with changes in plasma concentration of adipokines, such as leptin and adiponectin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermatitis was induced by neonatal capsaicin treatment. Body weight, dermatitis score, serum IgE, skin nerve growth factor (NGF), serum leptin and adiponectin, and cytokine mRNA expression in the skin lesion were compared between small (SL, 5 pups) and large litters (LL, 15 pups).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body weight of juvenile rats up to 6 weeks of age was significantly heavier in the SL group, compared with those in the LL group. The SL group showed more robust development of dermatitis, and higher levels of serum IgE and skin NGF than the LL group. Additionally, the SL group demonstrated higher levels of leptin and pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA but lower levels of adiponectin than the LL group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a causal link between a decrease in immunological tolerance, induced by juvenile obesity, and aggravation of atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Keun-Yeong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chengjin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Taeho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sat-Byol
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunkyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Keun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Back
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute & Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Heung Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Na
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; adipokine; adiponectin; breast-feeding; juvenile obesity; leptin