Adding Fuel to the Fire? The Skin Microbiome in Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial, heterogeneous disease characterized by epidermal barrier dysfunction, immune system dysregulation, and skin microbiome alterations. Skin microbiome studies in AD have demonstrated that disease flares are associated with microbial shifts, particularly Staphylococcus aureus predominance. AD-associated S. aureus strains differ from those in healthy individuals across various genomic loci, including virulence factors, adhesion proteins, and proinflammatory molecules —which may contribute to complex microbiome barrier–immune system interactions in AD. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Sara Saheb Kashaf, Heidi H. Kong Tags: Review Source Type: research

Correlating Cicatricial Alopecia and Cardiovascular Risk: Emerging Insights
The recent study published in this journal entitled “Association of Primary Cicatricial Alopecia with Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease” (Kim et al., 2023) adds new insights on the complex link between chronic inflammation of epithelial tissues and increased cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with hair disorders. Primary Cicatricial Alopecia ( PCA) might not only be a dermatological condition, as systemic associations including autoimmune disorders such as thyroid diseases and vitiligo, metabolic syndrome, and, notably, CV risk can be part of the disease. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Andrea Sechi, Antonella Tosti Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

Lymphatics-dependent modulation of the sensitization and elicitation phases of contact hypersensitivity
Allergic contact dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease comprising of two phases. During sensitization, immune cells are activated by exposure to various allergens, while repeated antigen exposure induces local inflammation during elicitation. Here, we utilized mouse models lacking lymphatics in different skin regions to characterize the role of lymphatics separately in the two phases, using contact hypersensitivity (CHS) as a model of the human disease. Lymphatic-deficient mice exhibited no major difference to single antigen exposure compared to controls. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Petra Aradi, G ábor Kovács, Éva Kemecsei, Kornél Molnár, Stella Márta Sági, Zalán Horváth, Babak J. Mehrara, Raghu P. Kataru, Zoltán Jakus Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Downregulation of OPN3 gene induces ferroptosis, apoptosis, and pyroptosis of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro
OPN3 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that serves various light-dependent and light-independent functions in human skin cells. These functions include the regulation of ultraviolet A-induced photoaging in dermal fibroblasts and the pigmentation of epidermal melanocytes (Lan et al., 2020, Ozdeslik et al., 2019). GPCRs, which constitute the largest family of membrane proteins, are involved in nearly all physiological processes, including cell survival and death (Kamps and Coffman, 2005). Our previous study demonstrated that OPN3 downregulation triggers apoptosis in melanocytes through the mitochondrial pathway of apopt...
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Ting Liu, Wei Zhang, Wen Zeng, Yu Wang, Huanhuan Luo, Xian Dong, Jianglong Feng, Yulei Zhang, Shuqi Jin, Hongguang Lu Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

IL23R G149R promotes IL-23 unresponsiveness in human memory Th17 cells
Leprosy, an ancient infectious dermatosis, is caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium leprae, which has a predilection for the skin and peripheral nerves, this disease can lead to severe deformity and social stigma (Britton and Lockwood, 2004). Advances have been made in understanding the genetic basis of the disease, which is inherited as a complex trait resulting from gene-gene and gene-environment interactions (Elder et al., 2010). Dozens of susceptibility genes have been found to be associated with leprosy in the past several years through genome-wide association studies, genome-wide meta-analysis a...
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 26, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Chuan Wang, Zhenzhen Wang, Tingting Liu, Zihao Mi, Wenchao Li, Yuan Zhang, Na Wang, Fuzhong Xue, Qiji Liu, Hong Liu, Furen Zhang Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Validation of the Diagnostic Code for Cutaneous Sarcoidosis in an Electronic Health Database: a Cross-sectional Analysis.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis is an uncommon disorder that occurs in approximately 25% of sarcoidosis patients and is characterized by an array of cutaneous manifestations.(Randhawa et al., 2022) Research on cutaneous sarcoidosis faces challenges due to its rarity. Developing a reliable method to accurately identify cases within large electronic health databases is crucial for advancing research on this condition. Diagnosis codes can be utilized to identify cases in these large databases, but this method is at risk for providing incomplete data and introducing misclassification bias. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Eric Xia, Ahana Gaurav, Megan H. Noe, Arash Mostaghimi, Sotonye E. Imadojemu Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Single-cell profiling unveils the inflammatory heterogeneity within cutaneous lesions of bullous pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a subepidermal blistering skin disease with a complex pathogenesis involving various immune cells. However, the transcriptional features of these cells remain poorly defined. Here, we construct a comprehensive and single-cell resolution atlas of various immune cells within BP skin lesions via integrative single-cell analysis, flow cytometry and multiplex immunohistochemistry. We observed prominent expansion and transcriptional changes in mast cells, macrophages, basophils, and neutrophils within BP lesions. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Yue Ruan, Chuqiao Xu, Tianyu Zhang, Lin Zhu, Hailun Wang, Jingying Wang, Haiqin Zhu, Chuanxin Huang, Meng Pan Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals interaction between CCL19+ inflammatory keratinocytes and CCR7+ dendritic cells and B cells in pemphigus
Pemphigus is a complex autoimmune skin disorder, with an incidence of 0.6-32 per million annually (Kasperkiewicz et al., 2017). The central role of B cell dysfunction in pemphigus is established, but the contributions of other cells are still not well defined and are difficult to elucidate using conventional approaches. The availability of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides an excellent opportunity to explore these questions. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Yiyi Wang, Shan Zhao, Xiwen Zhang, Dengmei Xia, Yue Xiao, Xingli Zhou, Tongying Zhan, Xuyang Xia, Yang Shu, Heng Xu, Wei Li Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and the risk of chronic inflammatory skin diseases in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Chronic inflammatory skin diseases (CISD) are characterized by immune activation and dysregulation (Eyerich and Eyerich, 2018). The mechanisms that lead to CISD remain to be elucidated. Various factors including genetic and environmental factors, such as drug exposure, may be involved in the development of CISD (Chiu et al., 2018, Ghaedi et al., 2021, Milavec-Puretic et al., 2011, Murad et al., 2021). (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 25, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Hsien-Yi Chiu, Yu Jr Lin, Yu-Huei Huang Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Expression of Concern: Zhou et  al. Extracellular Vesicles of Commensal Skin Microbiota Alleviate Cutaneous Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis Mouse Model by Re-Establishing Skin Homeostasis. J Invest Derm doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.02.023
After publication of the article “Extracellular Vesicles of Commensal Skin Microbiota Alleviate Cutaneous Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis Mouse Model by Re-Establishing Skin Homeostasis” (doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.02.023), originally published online March 10, 2023, concerns were raised about the origin of the SZ95 sebocytes on which the reported experiments were performed. At the request of the Editor, the authors are repeating the experiments with the original immortalized human sebaceous gland cell line SZ95 from Prof. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 24, 2024 Category: Dermatology Tags: Expresion of Conern Source Type: research

A role for aquaporin-5 mutations in regulation of the actin cytoskeleton in non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma
Diffuse non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (NEPPK [MIM 600231]) is characterized by thickening of the epidermis in palms and soles with a barrier defect. Missense variants within the AQP5 gene, encoding the water channel protein Aquaporin-5 (AQP5), are the underlying genetic cause of this autosomal dominant genodermatosis. AQP5 is highly expressed in sweat glands and localises to the plasma membrane of suprabasal keratinocytes in the palmoplantar epidermis (Blaydon et al, 2013). Here, diffuse NEPPK biopsies and patient-derived keratinocyte cell lines, obtained with written, informed consent and approved by the rese...
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 23, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Laura Ramos del Ca ño, Andrew P. South, Edel A. O’Toole, David P. Kelsell, Diana C. Blaydon Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Sweat Protects against Contact Hypersensitivity: Transient Sweat Suppression Compromises Skin Barrier Function in Mice
Although subtle barrier defects may facilitate allergen penetration, thereby enabling allergic sensitization, the relationship between sweating disturbance and skin barrier function is unknown. However, many studies on contact hypersensitivity in mice examined ear skin, which does not sweat, instead of the footpad, where sweating is uniquely present. Here, we assessed whether sweat suppression in the footpad before hapten application provoked a skin barrier abnormality and reduced inflammatory thresholds to topical haptens. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 22, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Hironobu Ishimaru, Kenta Nakamoto, Mariko Yamane, Takenobu Yamamoto, Keisuke Kitakaze, Yasuhiro Takenouchi, Kazuhito Tsuboi, Yasuo Okamoto, Yumi Aoyama Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Spatial mass cytometry-based single cell imaging reveals a disrupted epithelial-immune axis in prurigo nodularis
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects African Americans and features intensely pruritic, hyperkeratotic nodules on the extremities and trunk. PN is understudied compared to other inflammatory skin diseases, with the spatial organization of the cutaneous infiltrate in PN yet to be characterized. In this work, we employ spatial imaging mass cytometry to visualize prurigo nodularis lesional skin inflammation and architecture with single cell resolution through an unbiased machine learning approach. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 22, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Jay Patel, Junwen Deng, Anusha Kambala, Kevin K. Lee, Hannah L. Cornman, Varsha Parthasarathy, Thomas Pritchard, Shihua Chen, Alexei G. Hernandez, Sarah Shin, Olusola O. Oladipo, Madan M. Kwatra, Won Jin Ho, Shawn G. Kwatra Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Quantitative Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy to Evaluate Skin Penetration of Topically Applied Substances
The stratum corneum (SC) forms the main barrier of the skin that protects the body and controls the permeability to various substances. While an intact barrier is essential for healthy skin, it presents a challenge for topical delivery. Because a topical product's effectiveness depends on the ability to cross the SC and reach a specific skin target, reliable methods are needed to evaluate dermal penetration. (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 21, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Soonjin Hong, Prithwiraj Maitra, Kuniko Kadoya, Alireza Abdolvahabi, Joshua M. Rowe, Rahul C. Mehta Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Increased systemic levels of centrally acting B-type Natriuretic Peptide are associated with chronic Itch of different types
This study examined plasma BNP levels of 77 patients and N-Terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) levels of 33 patients with differing types of chronic itch to see if BNP and NT-proBNP levels can correlate with itch severity. Plasma BNP and NT-proBNP levels of all itch patients correlated to itch NRS, and in particular for patients with Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin (CPUO). (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - March 21, 2024 Category: Dermatology Authors: Leigh A. Nattkemper, Brian S. Kim, Qai Ven Yap, Mark A. Hoon, Santosh K. Mishra, Gil Yosipovitch Tags: Original Article Source Type: research