Opioidergic Signaling-A Neglected, Yet Potentially Important Player in Atopic Dermatitis

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Dorottya Ádám1,2, József Arany1,2, Kinga Fanni Tóth1,2

  • 1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common childhood skin condition lacking a cure. This review explores cutaneous opioidergic signaling as a potential new therapeutic target for AD management.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent skin disease, particularly in children, with significant unmet needs for curative treatments.
  • While advancements in understanding AD pathogenesis have yielded new therapies, effective treatments remain elusive.
  • Cutaneous barrier dysfunction is a key factor in AD development, suggesting signaling pathways regulating this barrier are critical.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing data on cutaneous opioidergic signaling in relation to atopic dermatitis (AD).
  • To identify potential novel therapeutic targets for AD based on opioidergic signaling pathways.
  • To explore therapeutic approaches for AD with improved side effect profiles.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating atopic dermatitis (AD).
  • Analysis of research on cutaneous barrier function and its regulation.
  • Examination of data related to opioidergic signaling pathways in the skin.

Main Results:

  • Opioidergic signaling is implicated in the complex regulation of the cutaneous barrier.
  • Dysregulation of this signaling pathway may contribute to atopic dermatitis (AD) pathogenesis.
  • Further research into cutaneous opioidergic signaling could reveal new therapeutic avenues.

Conclusions:

  • Cutaneous opioidergic signaling represents a promising, yet underexplored, area for AD research.
  • Targeting this pathway may offer novel therapeutic strategies for atopic dermatitis (AD).
  • Understanding opioidergic mechanisms could lead to treatments with favorable safety profiles.

Keywords:
atopic dermatitis (AD)cutaneous barrierinflammationitchkeratinocytemast cellnociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptoropioidskinµ-opioid receptor (MOR)δ-opioid receptor (DOR)κ-opioid receptor (KOR)

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