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Potential Role of Endothelin-1 in Atopic Dermatitis

  • Urticaria and Atopic Dermatitis (M Furue & T Nakahara, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous skin disease associated with intense pruritus and skin barrier dysfunction. Not only histamine, but also various pruritogens can induce itch in the skin of AD patients. Among them, one of the potentially endogenous pruritogens in the skin is endothelin-1 (ET-1). To understand the mechanism of action, production, and roles of ET-1 in the skin of AD, we reviewed recent advances in the understanding of ET-1.

Recent findings

Recently, functions of ET-1 related to inflammation other than itch have been reported. The expression of ET-1 and IL-25 was found to be coordinately upregulated in the lesional skin of AD patients and a murine AD model. IL-25 augmented ET-1 expression, and ET-1 reciprocally increased IL-25 expression in keratinocytes. In addition, ET-1 directly induced phenotypic and functional maturation of murine bone marrow–derived dendritic cells (DCs) and modified T cell responses.

Summary

ET-1 might be involved not only in pruritus but also in inflammation of AD. ET-1 may be a future target for antipruritic and anti-inflammatory agents in AD treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Skin Surface Sensing, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Takeshi Nakahara & Masutaka Furue

  2. Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takeshi Nakahara, Makiko Kido-Nakahara & Masutaka Furue

  3. Research and Clinical Center for Yusho and Dioxin, Kyushu University Hospital, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Masutaka Furue

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  1. Takeshi Nakahara
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  2. Makiko Kido-Nakahara
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  3. Masutaka Furue
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Correspondence to Takeshi Nakahara.

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Takeshi Nakahara declares no conflict of interest. Makiko Kido-Nakahara declares no conflict of interest. Masutaka Furue declares no conflict of interest.

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Nakahara, T., Kido-Nakahara, M. & Furue, M. Potential Role of Endothelin-1 in Atopic Dermatitis. Curr Treat Options Allergy 6, 156–163 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-019-00206-1

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