These bacteria can affect the skin barrier in atopic dermatitis

Staphylococci: Bacteria can affect the skin barrier in atopic dermatitis?

It has long been known that certain bacteria on the skin of people with atopic dermatitis occur particularly often. It is also known that the barrier function of the skin suffers from the disease. Scientists have now explored how this could be related.

Certain bacteria are especially common in people with eczema

According to health experts, about 3.5 to 5 million people in Germany live with neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema). It has been known for some time that certain bacteria on the skin of people with neurodermatitis are particularly common. Similarly, the barrier function of the skin suffers from chronic inflammatory skin disease. Researchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technische Universität München (TUM) have now determined how this could be related.

Studies have shown that the bacterial composition of the skin has an influence on the degree of inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Researchers have now discovered even more insights into this relationship. (Image: miamariam / fotolia.com)

Bacterial composition has an influence on the degree of inflammation

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), atopic dermatitis is "one of the most common childhood and adolescent diseases".

The disease is usually associated with severe itching, dry, flaky and reddened skin.

In addition, she is regarded as a gateway to the 'allergy career'. For it is often due to the barrier disorder of the skin that sensitization and manifest allergy develop, according to a statement by Helmholtz Zentrum München.

"Recent studies have shown, for example, that the bacterial composition of the skin has an influence on the degree of inflammation in atopic dermatitis," said study co-author Dr. Matthias Reiger.

"In addition, research into the skin barrier cell system has provided new insights into the function of specific genes for maintaining healthy skin."

Correlations between bacteria and skin barrier genes

In the next step, the researchers wanted to find out whether there are possible correlations between bacteria and genes of the skin barrier. To do so, they collected skin samples from healthy volunteers as well as people with atopic dermatitis.

In the latter case, they differentiated the samples depending on whether the skin area was inflamed or not.

"From the patient and control samples, we determined both the composition of the skin bacteria and those genes that were particularly active in the affected skin," explained bioinformatician Prof. Dr. med. Avidan Neumann, who was also involved in the work.

The analysis showed that mainly staphylococci on the skin of neurodermatitis dominated.

Staphylococci are the cause of many infectious diseases

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) describes on its website how dangerous these bacteria are: "Staphylococci are the cause of many infectious diseases in humans and animals. They can cause foodborne intoxications as well as infectious diseases. "

It also states: "They often cause purulent wound infections and other purulent infections in humans." For example, the bacteria are often responsible for inflammation in the nose.

Staphylococci can also lead to the so-called toxic shock syndrome.

Health experts are particularly concerned about the multidrug-resistant strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which are often resistant to antibiotics.

Other staphylococci are displaced

According to the Helmholtz Zentrum München, the species Staphylococcus aureus was particularly common on the skin of eczema sufferers, regardless of whether the affected skin was inflamed or not.

"For certain inflamed samples, S. aureus consumed as much as 99 percent of the total microbial composition," said Matthias Reiger.

"In addition, S. aureus seems to displace the other staphylococci," the microbiologist continues. "The more we find S. aureus, the less likely other species will be present."

For the analysis of the gene activity, the scientists obtained help from Switzerland: The cooperation partners at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) at the University of Zurich analyzed the entire transcriptome of the skin samples.

They noticed that some genes changed significantly, depending on which bacterial inhabitants lived on the skin.

"This effect was particularly pronounced for four genes involved in the maintenance of an intact and stable skin barrier," said Avidan Neumann.

The results of the researchers were published in the journal "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology". (Ad)