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Pollen count affects the symptoms of atopic dermatitis
For a long time, a connection between the pollen and atopic dermatitis was suspected, now scientists of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (Fraunhofer ITEM), the proof of this connection succeeded. "The grass pollen has an influence on eczema - sufferers show a significantly worsened disease," said the MHH. The researchers published their results in the journal "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology".
The research team of the Fraunhofer ITEM and the Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology of the MHH were able to prove with the help of a so-called pollen space that the pollen count clearly has an influence on the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. They placed volunteers with eczema in the Fraunhofer pollen provocation room, on the so-called "meadow in the lab," and found "that the subjects with clearly visible episodes of atopic dermatitis responded," says the MHH. Whether the findings on the development of new drugs for immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis can be used, will now clarify further investigations.
The skin pattern of atopic dermatitis patients can be significantly worsened by the pollen count within hours. (Image: casi / fotolia.com) Skin appearance worsens within hours
Especially a tormenting itchy skin rash characterizes the atopic dermatitis, the disease has increased significantly in recent decades and continue to be observed increasing numbers of cases. "Their treatment is still particularly difficult, also because the factors that trigger the disease are individually very different," says the MHH. However, the study in the pollen provocation room of the Fraunhofer ITEM - in which grass pollen fly like a natural summer meadow - reveals that the pollen load in the air significantly worsens the appearance of atopic dermatitis patients within hours. The laboratory tests at the MHH had also shown that the markers for allergic inflammation in the blood of these patients increased. The effects of pollen exposure were thus also detectable in the blood of the study participants.
New ways of treatment?
In light of the findings, the researchers wondered if pollen provocation might be suitable for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. So far, the available therapies for the treatment of atopic dermatitis aim to suppress the inflammatory response with broad-spectrum drugs such as corticosteroids. Here "a completely new way with a new treatment form could be treaded, namely with the use of DNAzymes - synthetic DNA molecules with enzyme activity", so the hope of the researchers. The scientists had already engaged in another project with a DNAzyme as a therapeutic agent. Their mission was to test the safety and efficacy of the DNAzym drug for the treatment of allergic asthma developed by Sterna Biologicals in collaboration with scientists from the University of Marburg, MHH reports.
Success in the treatment of asthma
The investigated drug called "SB010" was based on the inhibition of the transcription factor GATA-3, which is responsible for inflammatory reactions and associated symptoms. The research team led by Professor Thomas Werfel, head of the research department "Immunodermatology and Experimental Allergology" at the MHH, was able to confirm important indications for the effectiveness of "SB010" in allergies on the basis of human cell systems in laboratory experiments. A 28-day treatment with the active substance had a significant improvement in lung function compared to placebo after a specific allergen challenge, according to the MHH. "SB010" proved to be "safe and well-tolerated". The results of the study were published in the journal "New England Journal of Medicine".
Research on new therapeutic approaches
At the Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology at the MHH, under the direction of Professor Werfel, it will now be investigated whether the use of the DNAzyme "SB010" would also be possible in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The follow-up examinations will again be carried out in cooperation with the Fraunhofer ITEM. "The outstanding research conditions and the short distances between our neighboring institutions, we will also intensively use for future joint projects in allergy research," said Professor Werfel. (Fp)