The Expression of BAFF, APRIL and TWEAK Is Altered in Eczema Skin but Not in the Circulation of Atopic and Seborrheic Eczema Patients
2011

Cytokine Expression in Eczema Skin

Sample size: 184 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Chen Yunying, Lind Enoksson Sara, Johansson Catharina, Karlsson Maria A., Lundeberg Lena, Nilsson Gunnar, Scheynius Annika, Karlsson Mikael C. I.

Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

Hypothesis

The expression of BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK is altered in the skin of patients with atopic eczema compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion

The study found that while circulating levels of BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK were not elevated in atopic eczema patients, their expression was significantly altered in the skin of these patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • The expression of BAFF was found to be increased in eczema skin of atopic eczema and seborrheic eczema patients.
  • Circulating levels of BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK were not elevated in patients with atopic eczema compared to healthy controls.
  • The study identified a correlation between the expression levels of TWEAK and its receptor in seborrheic eczema lesions.

Takeaway

This study looked at how certain proteins related to immune response are changed in the skin of people with eczema compared to healthy people.

Methodology

The study measured serum levels of BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK using ELISA and analyzed skin biopsies using quantitative RT-PCR and immunofluorescence.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in patient selection and the influence of confounding factors in the analysis.

Limitations

The study's findings may not be generalizable to all populations due to the specific cohort studied.

Participant Demographics

The study included 99 patients with atopic eczema, 27 with seborrheic eczema, and 58 healthy controls, with a mix of genders and ages.

Statistical Information

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022202

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