[Microbiome, atopic eczema and blockade of type 2 immunity]

Atopic dermatitis affects roughly 20% of children and 3% of adults in Germany and other industrial countries, with an increasing prevalence. Its causality has still not been conclusively clarified but a type‑2 T‑helper cell mediated immunity reaction (type 2 immunity) dominates cutaneous inflammation. In the quest for the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and the development of improved prevention and treatment options, attention is also increasingly being paid to the influence of microbial colonization. This is facilitated by the rapid development of microbial analysis by sequencing. An increasing number of studies have shown that there is a link between disorders of the skin microbiome and the occurrence of atopic eczema and some also point towards the intestinal microbiome. In particular, a loss of diversity regarding the composition of the microbiome has been observed.