Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin condition marked by pruritus, inflammation, and xerosis, often linked with asthma and food allergies. Recent research reveals a significant connection between AD and obesity, with dysregulated adipokines—peptides from adipose tissue—playing a central role. Adipokines like leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin influence immune responses and inflammation, with leptin promoting Th1 and Th17 activity while adiponectin and resistin exhibit regulatory effects. Obesity appears to exacerbate AD, especially in children, through a shift toward Th17-dominant immune responses.

Targeting adipokines offers potential for novel AD therapies. Studies highlight their roles in reducing inflammation, improving skin barrier function, and alleviating AD severity. Weight management and adipokine modulation show promise in mitigating symptoms, particularly in obesity-related AD. However, the heterogeneity of AD and inconsistencies in research emphasize the need for large-scale studies to clarify the link between obesity and AD. Adipokine-targeted treatments could provide innovative solutions for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies, paving the way for precision medicine in managing this complex condition.

Reference: Zhang S, Zhang B, Liu Y, Li L. Adipokines in atopic dermatitis: the link between obesity and atopic dermatitis. Lipids Health Dis. 2024;23(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s12944-024-02009-z. 

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex inflammatory skin disorder influenced by immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction, and pruritus. Key immune cells, including Th2 cells, ILC2s, and basophils, drive inflammation by releasing cytokines like IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31, while alarmins such as TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33 amplify the response. These cytokines suppress barrier proteins like filaggrin, worsening the skin barrier. Effective treatments, including dupilumab and nemolizumab, have shown promise in reducing inflammation and pruritus. However, therapies targeting cytokines like IL-33, TSLP, IL-1α, IL-5, and IL-17 have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials, highlighting challenges in translating findings from animal models to human patients.

Pruritus is a hallmark symptom of AD, and IL-31 plays a significant role in this process, with nemolizumab offering relief in clinical studies. Chronic inflammation involves other cytokines, such as IL-22, which drives keratinocyte proliferation and thickening of the epidermis. Fezakinumab, an IL-22-targeting therapy, shows promise for severe AD. JAK inhibitors, including upadacitinib and abrocitinib, also offer promising results for moderate-to-severe AD.

Reference: Yamamura Y, Nakashima C, Otsuka A. Interplay of cytokines in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis: insights from Murin models and human. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024;11:1342176. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1342176. 

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder marked by itching, redness, and barrier dysfunction, affecting a large global population. Current treatments, such as topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, provide temporary relief but carry risks with long-term use. This study investigated fish collagen (FC) as a potential alternative therapy. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that FC has anti-inflammatory and skin barrier-restorative properties, regulating pathways like IkB, MAPKs, and STATs. FC alleviated symptoms such as epidermal hyperplasia, mast cell infiltration, and transepidermal water loss in a mouse AD model, indicating its potential as a safe and effective treatment.

The research also demonstrated FC's ability to restore filaggrin expression, essential for skin barrier integrity, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both oral and topical FC applications were effective, with the combined approach showing the greatest results. These findings highlight FC's promise as a cosmeceutical and therapeutic agent for AD, supporting further studies into its pharmacokinetics and advanced formulations. Future research should focus on optimizing FC delivery systems to enhance its therapeutic potential in AD management.

Reference: Kim HM, Jin BR, Lee JS, Jo EH, Park MC, An HJ. Anti-atopic dermatitis effect of fish collagen on house dust mite-induced mice and HaCaT keratinocytes. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):14888. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41831-w.