ATODERM Skin: A new ex vivo model to advance research and solutions for atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, non-infectious inflammatory skin disorder associated with constant itching of the cutaneous tissue. It occurs mainly in childhood, with a frequency of up to 20% in this age group, while approximately 10% of the adult population is also impacted. Persistent itching – the most relevant clinical symptom of atopic dermatitis – considerably diminishes quality of life by causing sleep disturbance, insomnia and generally affecting daily activities.
At the molecular level, atopic dermatitis is characterised by a T helper 2 (Th2)-driven inflammatory response. Key interleukins, such as IL-13 and IL-31, contribute to a decrease in filaggrin expression, compromising the skin’s barrier function and resulting in extreme dryness. Genetic predispositions, including mutations in the filaggrin gene, have also been strongly associated with atopic dermatitis. Additionally, an imbalance in the skin microbiota, marked by the dominance of Staphylococcus aureus colonisation, plays a significant role in the disease's pathology.
Considering that atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder with a high socioeconomic impact, the development of a robust model allowing the screening and selection of molecules specific for the disease is a key step for the pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic industry. At Eurofins BIO-EC, we have recently developed an ex vivo human skin model, called Atopic Dermatitis skin (ATODERM Skin), able to very closely mimic the structural and molecular aspect of atopic dermatitis pathology.
To achieve this, human skin explants were treated systematically with a mix of different cytokines and were characterised using a multi-parametric approach.
The results that we obtained by the analysis of transcriptomic profile, the immunolocalisation of targeted proteins and the characterisation of skin barrier function by Raman spectroscopy indicate that ATODERM Skin is a new biological tool based on human skin ex vivo that can be used for the screening of molecules specific for atopic dermatitis.
By complementing in vitro research and clinical studies, the ATODERM Skin model represents a significant step forward for pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic industries. It offers a biologically relevant platform to identify and evaluate innovative solutions, ultimately aiming to improve the lives of individuals affected by atopic dermatitis.