Found a Treatment for House Dust Mite Atopic Dermatitis

Published 30 Aug.2023 12:00(KST)

Kyungpook National University Research Team Identifies Factors Causing Worsening and Severe Conditions
"Developing Effective Therapeutic Agents to Block Them"

A new treatment method has been developed for severe atopic dermatitis caused by house dust mites.

Arm of a patient with atopic dermatitis

The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on the 30th that a research team led by Professors Choi Young-ae, Jang Yong-hyun, and Kim Sang-hyun from Kyungpook National University discovered an important factor responsible for the vicious cycle of severe chronic atopic dermatitis induced by house dust mites.

The positivity rate of house dust mites in atopic patients reaches 68.8%, but due to complex antigenicity, research on specific mechanisms has been insufficient. In particular, keratinocytes secrete various inflammatory mediators and continuously interact with surrounding immune cells, inducing worsening or chronicity of the disease. Despite numerous studies, the identification of antigen-specific factors secreted from keratinocytes by house dust mites and verification of their role in immune activation in atopic dermatitis remain very inadequate.

The research team confirmed that among numerous factors secreted from keratinocytes stimulated by house dust mite antigens, IP-10 (Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10, CXCL10) was secreted at the highest level and aimed to verify its role. Experimental results showed that the expression level of IP-10 in atopic dermatitis lesions had a decisive effect on skin thickening, erythema, and increased keratinization accompanied by inflammation, which are representative clinical signs of atopy, and it was confirmed that IP-10 directly regulates Th2 cell-mediated immunity, an important indicator of allergic diseases.

(Figure 1) Production of IP-10 and Its Mechanism of Action in House Dust Mite Sensitivity Atopic Dermatitis<br>- Keratinocytes exposed to house dust mite antigens increase the production and secretion of IP-10. The secreted IP-10 spreads to local lymph nodes, inducing transcription factor activation in undifferentiated Th0 cells, leading to their differentiation into Th2 cells. Additionally, it stimulates inactive Th2 cells within the lesion area, activating them into IL-4-producing Th2 cells. Through this series of processes, an amplified Th2 response is induced. <br><Figure source = Provided by Professor Sanghyun Kim, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine>

(Figure 1) Production of IP-10 and Its Mechanism of Action in House Dust Mite Sensitivity Atopic Dermatitis
- Keratinocytes exposed to house dust mite antigens increase the production and secretion of IP-10. The secreted IP-10 spreads to local lymph nodes, inducing transcription factor activation in undifferentiated Th0 cells, leading to their differentiation into Th2 cells. Additionally, it stimulates inactive Th2 cells within the lesion area, activating them into IL-4-producing Th2 cells. Through this series of processes, an amplified Th2 response is induced.

The core of this study lies in revealing that the IP-10 factor acts as an important vicious loop-inducing factor that activates lymphocytes infiltrated into lesion areas, worsening and chronicizing atopic dermatitis. Controlling the IP-10 factor enables the development of a new concept of targeted therapy for atopic dermatitis.

Professor Kim Sang-hyun stated, “Currently, the research team is developing a new drug candidate that effectively controls IP-10 with low toxicity and excellent skin penetration, and is synthesizing nano-drug conjugates to improve the drug’s properties,” adding, “We expect it to be applicable for the treatment of severe and intractable atopic dermatitis patients in the future.”