title: ATOPIC DERMATITIS: EXPRESSION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL IMBALANCE.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory skin condition, characterized by a skin barrier dysfunction resulting in epidermal damage and altered permeability to allergens and microbes. Although pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is complex and still not fully understood, it has been hypothesized that genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and skin barrier dysfunction are involved. Innate and adaptive immune system has also a pivotal role in the development, maintenance and flare-up of atopic dermatitis. The immune-pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is determined by the impairment of different T helper cells, of their cytokine secretion profiles as well as of their specific receptor. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the etiopathogenetic pathways of atopic dermatitis in relationship to the critical role of the innate and adaptive immune system, providing a unifying view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chimenz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colavita
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pidone
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sturiale
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.affiliation: Department Donna del Bambino e di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Seconda Università di Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraglia Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Genetics and Immunology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuppari