Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, the most common inflammatory skin diseases in the general population, share many features, but their immune responses are different as are their propensity to skin infection.
Both diseases have been studied in animal models but, until now, researchers have been unable to relate their findings to humans and identify the human immunologic and genetic differences between them.
However, Dr Emma Guttman-Yassky and colleagues, using skin biopsies from patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis as well as from people with healthy skin and sophisticated genetic and immunology testing, have found that psoriasis and atopic dermatitis arise from different immune responses and skin defense patterns, as well as from unique genetic profiles.
Their findings establish new classifications for the two skin conditions and new insights into the disease mechanisms of each and can open doors to new targeted treatments for these diseases.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
March 2011
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