2023-06-26 03:10:56
Diagnosing atopic dermatitis in infants is a particular challenge. Japanese researchers have therefore developed a non-invasive method to detect the disease at an early stage.
Eczema can often appear in babies as young as one to two months old. Among the different types of eczema that occur in infants, early-onset atopic dermatitis (AD), which is characterized by psychological stress and sleep disturbances, is of particular concern. According to studies, untreated AD can increase the risk of allergic diseases – a development also known as the “atopic march”. Early diagnosis and intervention in AD are necessary to ensure the child’s mental and physical health.
Better diagnostics for infants required
However, in infants as young as one or two months old, it can be difficult to diagnose AD. Aside from parental reluctance to see a doctor and the infant’s inability to articulate their symptoms, the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis can also be influenced by the physician’s subjectivity and experience. In addition, the use of more accurate but invasive diagnostic methods for AD, such as B. skin biopsies in infants difficult. There is therefore a need for new objective and non-invasive diagnostic methods.
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In a previous study led by project leader Takayoshi Inoue of Kao Corporation’s Biological Science Research Division, researchers found that sebum contains measurable amounts of human mRNA molecules. They hypothesized that analyzing the genetic expression of such RNA-containing sebum samples could reveal the molecular features of atopic dermatitis and the underlying pathogenesis. Based on this discovery, researchers developed a novel analytical method that enables transcriptome analysis of mRNA in human skin sebum collected using a simple oil swab film.
Altered biomarkers in sebum
In a study in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology the researchers confirmed the usefulness of this new RNA monitoring method. The main objective of this study was to determine if sebum RNA could provide reliable biomarkers for the detection of early-stage AD in infants.
The study population included a prospective cohort of 98 one- and two-month-old infants. A proportion of these infants were diagnosed with AD according to United Kingdom Working Party criteria. The researchers first sampled sebum from the facial skin of each of the participating infants using a single sheet of oil dab. Subsequently, the mRNA in the skin surface lipids was extracted to perform transcriptome analysis. From this, the underlying molecular characteristics of the early onset of atopic dermatitis could be determined.
The analysis indicated several genes with differential expression between infants with and without AD. Specifically, the researchers observed that 1-month-old AD infants had lower expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism and synthesis, tight junctions, antimicrobial peptides, and keratinization. They also showed higher expression of genes associated with Th2, Th17 and Th22 type immune responses.
Most importantly, the team found that, via changes in these markers, sebum RNA can be used to detect the onset of atopic dermatitis far in advance. dr Yamamoto-Hanada, director of the National Center for Allergy Research at the National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan, states: “Our results confirm that the RNA monitoring method is useful for the early detection of AD in infants and for future surveillance as well treatment.”
This article is based on a press release by Kao Corporation (Japan). We have the original publication for you here and linked in the text.
Image source: Susan Wilkinson, unsplash
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