Nonlesional atopic dermatitis skin is characterized by broad terminal differentiation defects and variable immune abnormalities

M Suárez-Fariñas, SJ Tintle, A Shemer… - Journal of Allergy and …, 2011 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with a TH2
and “T22” immune polarity. Despite recent data showing a genetic predisposition to
epidermal barrier defects in some patients, a fundamental debate still exists regarding the
role of barrier abnormalities versus immune responses in initiating the disease. An extensive
study of nonlesional AD (ANL) skin is necessary to explore whether there is an intrinsic
predisposition to barrier abnormalities, background immune activation, or both in patients …