Epicutaneous aeroallergen sensitization in atopic dermatitis infants – determining the role of epidermal barrier impairment
Abstract
Background: Sensitization to atopens is an early phenomenon that overlaps with the onset of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infancy. Early epidermal barrier impairment may facilitate the epicutaneous penetration of atopens. Objective: To correlate transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and aeroallergen sensitization in infants with AD. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study we enrolled 59 AD children and 30 controls aged 3–12 months. Transepidermal water loss in uninvolved skin, specific immunoglobulin E, atopy patch test (APT) and skin prick tests were performed with respect to seven aeroallergens, i.e., Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , D. farinae , cat, dog, birch pollen, ambrosia, and cockroach. Environmental conditions were assessed by a questionnaire, and the house dust mite (HDM) concentration was determined in dust samples. Results: Eighty‐nine percent of AD infants had a positive APT vs one out of eleven controls. AD infants had a significantly higher mean TEWL than controls (27.4 vs 11.1 g/m 2 /h, P < 0001). Children with two or more positive APT had higher TEWL than the others (31.1 vs 19.0 g/m 2 /h, P < 0.025). No correlation was found between indoor APT results and exposure to HDM, cats, and dogs at home. Conclusions: This study confirms the high prevalence of delayed sensitization to indoor and outdoor aeroallergens in AD infants, and shows that the higher the TEWL, the higher the prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens. These data are in favor of a major role of a constitutive epidermal barrier impairment in determining early atopen sensitization in infants with AD.
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FLG deficiency and increased TEWL are associated with skin barrier dysfunction and increased allergen sensitization.
“It is also well known that FLG deficiency and increased TEWL are associated with skin barrier dysfunction and increased allergen sensitization (20, 35, 63–65).”
From Particulate matter causes skin barrier dysfunction. (2021) · cites this paper as [64]
HDM extract is a major environmental allergen.
“using HDM extract, a major environmental allergen 27,28 .”
From Vascularized human skin assembloids model compartmental skin organization and immune responsiveness in vitro (2026) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Boralevi, F., Hubiche, T., Léauté‐Labrèze, C., Saubusse, E., Fayon, M., Roul, S., Maurice‐Tison, S., & Taïeb, A.
- Affiliations
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux (FR)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Allergy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-01-04
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 205-210
- ISSN
- 0105-4538 (ISSN-L)
- 1398-9995
- OpenAlex
- W1528124361
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 11.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Allergy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Société Française de Dermatologie et de Pathologie Sexuellement Transmissible
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Keywords
- atopic dermatitis, infants, aeroallergen sensitization, transepidermal water loss, atopy patch test, house dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, specific IgE, delayed-type hypersensitivity, environmental allergens
- MeSH terms
- Air Pollutants, Allergens, Animals, Cats, Cockroaches, Dermatitis, Atopic, Dogs, Dust, Epidermis, Female, Housing, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Delayed, Infant, Male, Patch Tests, Pollen, Skin Tests, Water Loss, Insensible, Antigens, Dermatophagoides
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