1. IL‐13, periostin and dipeptidyl‐peptidase‐4 reveal endotype‐phenotype associations in atopic dermatitis
- Author
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Maintz, Laura; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-1530, Welchowski, Thomas; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2940-647X, Herrmann, Nadine; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4924-2281, Brauer, Juliette; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6975-2559, Traidl‐Hoffmann, Claudia; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5085-5179, Havenith, Regina; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0148-7159, Müller, Svenja; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2118-959X, Rhyner, Claudio; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3339-3923, Dreher, Anita; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8823-6621, Schmid, Matthias; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6173-2104, Bieber, Thomas; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-3817, Maintz, Laura; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-1530, Welchowski, Thomas; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2940-647X, Herrmann, Nadine; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4924-2281, Brauer, Juliette; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6975-2559, Traidl‐Hoffmann, Claudia; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5085-5179, Havenith, Regina; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0148-7159, Müller, Svenja; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2118-959X, Rhyner, Claudio; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3339-3923, Dreher, Anita; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8823-6621, Schmid, Matthias; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6173-2104, and Bieber, Thomas; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-3817
- Abstract
Background: The heterogeneous (endo)phenotypes of atopic dermatitis (AD) require precision medicine. Currently, systemic therapy is recommended to patients with an Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) ≥ 16. Previous studies have demonstrated an improved treatment response to the anti‐interleukin (IL)‐13 antibody tralokinumab in AD subgroups with elevated levels of the IL‐13‐related biomarkers dipeptidyl‐peptidase (DPP)‐4 and periostin. Methods: Herein, 373 AD patients aged ≥12 years were stratified by IL‐13$^{high}$, periostin$^{high}$ and DPP‐4$^{high}$ endotypes using cross‐sectional data from the ProRaD cohort Bonn. “High” was defined as >80th quantile of 47 non‐atopic controls. We analyzed endotype‐phenotype associations using machine‐learning gradient boosting compared to logistic regression. Results: Atopic dermatitis severity and eosinophils correlated with IL‐13 and periostin levels. Correlations of IL‐13 with EASI were stronger in patients with increased (rs = 0.482) than with normal (rs = 0.342) periostin levels. We identified eosinophilia >6% and an EASI range of 5.5–17 dependent on the biomarker combination to be associated with increasing probabilities of biomarker$^{high}$ endotypes. Also patients with mild‐to‐low‐moderate severity (EASI < 16) featured increased biomarkers (IL‐13$^{high}$: 41%, periostin$^{high}$: 48.4%, DPP‐4$^{high}$: 22.3%). Herthoge sign (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 1.89, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.14–3.14]) and maternal allergic rhinitis (aOR = 2.79–4.47) increased the probability of an IL‐13$^{high}$‐endotype, “dirty neck” (aOR = 2.83 [1.32–6.07]), orbital darkening (aOR = 2.43 [1.08–5.50]), keratosis pilaris (aOR = 2.21 [1.1–4.42]) and perleche (aOR = 3.44 [1.72–6.86]) of a DPP‐4$^{high}$‐endotype. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients with EASI < 16 featured high biomarker levels suggesting systemic impact of skin inflammation already below the current cut‐off for systemic therapy. Our findings facilitate the
- Published
- 2023