Colonization with superantigen‐producing <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is associated with increased severity of atopic dermatitis

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<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with colonization of the skin with <jats:italic>Staphylococcus aureus</jats:italic> known to produce toxins with superantigen (SAg) activity. Besides T‐cell activation these toxins induce T‐cell skin homing <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>. This may contribute to the observed induction or enhancement of skin inflammation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>The aim of this study was to determine whether colonization with SAg‐producing <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> isolates modulates the intensity of AD. If so, it was of interest whether this may be primarily due to the toxins' effects as SAgs or as allergens.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>In AD patients, healthy controls, and atopic controls SAg production by <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> isolated from skin or mucous membranes was investigated and correlated to the severity of the disease. Total IgE, SAg‐specific IgE, and T‐cell activation and recirculation markers were analysed and correlated with SAg production.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Fifty‐seven percent of <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> strains isolated from AD patients produced SAgs. This frequency was higher compared to healthy controls (33%). SAg production by <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> was correlated with a significantly higher scoring of AD (SCORAD index, 58 ± 19 in SAg‐producing vs 41 ± 7 in non‐SAg‐producing germs; <jats:italic>P </jats:italic>< 0.05). However, the severity of the disease was not associated with sensitization against the SAgs staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Furthermore, SAg production by <jats:italic>S. aureus </jats:italic>was inversely correlated with total IgE concentration (<jats:italic>P </jats:italic>< 0.05) and positively correlated with T‐cell activation (as measured by HLA‐DR and CD69 expression) and the expression of the T‐cell skin homing phenotype cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>SAg production by <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> is suggested to be associated with an increased severity of atopic dermatitis. Since SAg production was found neither exclusively in AD patients nor in all patients, other pathogenic factors may be additionally effective.</jats:p></jats:sec>

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