Gut barrier integrity disruption in atopic dermatitis: truth or myth-a case-control study

Gut dysbiosis has been linked to the onset and progression of various diseases, including atopic dermatitis, by disrupting the intestinal barrier integrity. In turn, it allows the translocation of microbes and toxins into the systemic circulation, which triggers an immune response.

To measure serum levels of the gut integrity markers claudin 3 and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein in patients with atopic dermatitis.

This prospective study was conducted on 43 patients with atopic dermatitis. Healthy volunteers (n = 35) served as controls. The serum level of claudin 3 and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for all participants.

There were no significant differences in serum levels of claudin 3 and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein between patients with atopic dermatitis and the control group (P = 0.61 and 0.81, respectively). In addition, there was no significant correlation between the two markers, and different clinical and laboratory parameters (onset of disease, eczema area severity index, other allergic manifestations and serum IgE).

Alterations in the intestinal barrier may be absent in the ethnically distinct group of patients with atopic dermatitis included in our study. Nevertheless, our findings might have been influenced by factors such as the duration of the disease, diet and characteristics of the study population. Further studies are needed to investigate additional biomarkers or mechanisms that may be involved in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis, especially those related to the gut-skin axis.