Genetic studies of skin barrier defects with focus on atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, complex inflammatory skin disorder where a defect skin barrier is central in the pathogenesis. Mutations in the filaggrin gene cause ichthyosis vulgaris (IV). IV is one of several keratinization disorders named ichthyoses where mutations in skin barrier genes are a common underlying genetic factor. Furthermore, filaggrin mutations are a major risk factor for moderate to severe AD.

The aim of the work reported in this thesis is to improve the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of skin barrier defects associated with AD, and to identify whether AD and other common disorders of keratinisation may share genetic susceptibility factors related to skin barrier dysfunction.

Paper I presents data suggesting that filaggrin mutations may be rare in Ethiopian AD and IV patients, implying other mechanisms should be more important in the pathogenesis of IV and AD in this ethnic group.

Paper II presents a novel mutation in the steroid sulfatase gene in a patient with clinical signs of common ichthyosis type.

In paper III association between filaggrin mutations and childhood onset of psoriasis was tested. No association to any prevalent filaggrin mutations was found, and no novel mutations. This indicates that filaggrin loss-of- function variants do not have a strong effect on the onset of psoriasis in childhood.

In paper IV it is demonstrated that functional parameters and gene expression in molecular pathways in vivo is altered in patients suffering from AD and IV and depend on filaggrin genotype. Patients with filaggrin mutations displayed a severe phenotype with impaired barrier function measured as increased trans-epidermal water loss, and significantly altered pH levels. Furthermore, the numbers of genes with altered expression were significantly higher in patients with low or absent filaggrin expression. These pathways include many genes involved in inflammation, epidermal differentiation, lipid metabolism, cell signalling and adhesion.

Paper V represents a candidate gene study where expression analysis links the epidermal transglutaminases 1 and 3 to the manifestation of AD and genetic analysis suggests that genetic variation at the transglutaminase 1 locus could be involved in the development of the disease.

The results of the work reported in this thesis provides additional descriptive information and further elucidates the pathogenesis underlying AD and other disorders of keratinization, in particular in relation to filaggrin deficiency. Better understanding of the genetic factors and molecular and functional consequences should hopefully enable future individually designed barrier restoring therapy.

List of scientific papers

I. Winge MCG, Bilcha KD, Lieden A, Shibeshi D, Sandilands A, Wahlgren CF, McLean WH, Nordenskjöld M, Bradley M. Novel filaggrin mutation but no other loss-of-function variants found in Ethiopian patients with atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol. 2011 Nov; 165(5):1074-80.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10475.x

II. Winge MCG, Hoppe T, Lieden A, Nordenskjöld M, Vahlquist A, Wahlgren CF, Törmä H, Bradley M, Berne B. Novel point mutation in the STS gene in a patient with X-linked recessive ichthyosis. J Dermatol Sci. 2011 Jul;63(1):62-4.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2011.03.011

III. Winge MCG, Suneson J, Lysell J, Nikamo P, Liedén A, Nordenskjöld M, Wahlgren CF, Bradley M, Ståhle M. Lack of association between filaggrin gene mutations and onset of psoriasis in childhood. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Dec. [Accepted]
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04403.x

IV. Winge MCG, Hoppe T, Berne B, Vahlquist A, Nordenskjöld M, Bradley M, Törmä H. Filaggrin Genotype Determines Functional and Molecular Alterations in Skin of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis and Ichthyosis Vulgaris. PLoS ONE. 2011 Dec; 6(12):e28254.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028254

V. Liedén A, Sääf A, Winge MCG, Kockum I, Ekelund E, Wahlgren CF, Nordenskjöld M, Bradley M. Genetic association and expression analysis of the epidermal transglutaminases in atopic dermatitis. [Submitted]